Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Currently, the funding is there to provide 24 million home care hours. We do not have the staffing capacity currently to do that. That is why we have put this strategic workforce planning group in place.

On the other issue raised by the Deputy, I presume he is referring to when the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, was before the committee during the week. When dealing with people who have mental health illness, difficulties or challenges, there can sometimes be issues around consent. Sometimes, if the person does not give his or her consent, an answer from the HSE cannot be explored in respect of the care that person may or may not be receiving.