Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The point on outcomes versus output is important. I will give an example, although it is not in the remit of this committee, from the area of home care. There is a concern that much is contracted out and the outputs can become X units of dinners made and X hours, whereas the outcomes in terms of qualitative outcomes for persons receiving care are crucial. In the end the money is part of it. The Department is focused on public expenditure but part of the value for public expenditure is similar to procurement whereby the most economically advantageous is that which also gives the most additional social and environmental benefit. Outputs are an easy measure. I notice that even in this excellent report, much of it is based on targets and delivery. It is very numerical. The challenge I mentioned at the beginning with regard to procurement and having proper objectives but measurable qualitative indicators will be very important so that this not box-ticking and will be meaningful. I am using home care as an example because it is contracted out and output does not give us enough of the story as to whether there is good public service delivery.