Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am going slightly off the point here. This question relates to the private and public facilities under the HSE's jurisdiction. There is huge variation in funding support. Is there not a need for the Department to look at that whole area? If we want really good care facilities to be provided, there has to be adequate funding in place, whether it is public or private. Should the Department now look at that whole funding mechanism, in view of the cost? For instance, in any nursing home or residential centre, a simple thing like the cost of heating has gone up by 200% or 300%, while funding has not been adjusted accordingly. Does the Department now not need to look at that whole area as well? We want to make sure we have the best possible facilities, but in order to provide them adequate funding has to be in place as well.