Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That has been welcomed across all the sectors that they receive a minimum of the living wage and that they also receive mileage when they are delivering home support. In north county Dublin, for example, I met staff in an organisation in CHO 9 a few months ago. They provided 900,000 home care hours last year. There was no waiting list and they are part of a voluntary organisation. With a lot of their care, they do not have to travel far between clients. In rural areas, a lot of travel is involved but in the case of this organisation much of their care is provided by walkers, as they are called. They even provide a shoe allowance every quarter for their home care providers. We can learn an awful lot from them. They pay different rates for Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. CHO 9 is one of the best performing areas and the care is provided by a voluntary organisation.