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

I will move on to section 38 and 39 organisations. Last year, €6.3 billion was paid out. My understanding is that there are approximately 2,500 organisations. Some of them are large, for example, the voluntary hospitals, but some are quite small. Is any effort being made to see how we can get better on this front? In fairness, the organisations are doing a great deal of very good work and delivering services that otherwise would not be delivered. Can efficiencies be created in respect of them? They account for 25% of the budget and we are dependent on them to provide a service that, technically speaking, the HSE should be providing.