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

The health budget is about €1.5 billion over budget but one issue that arises is the fact that the HSE is paying out well over €6 billion to about 2,500 different organisations. I know an organisation previously appeared before the committee that subsequently ended up in the High Court but is it worth going back and looking at the checks and balances the HSE has in place regarding those 2,500 organisations it is funding? We may be happy about this as it is but is it something we should consider? When I get a letter from someone saying they are representing 120 different organisations, I worry whether efficiencies are there if you have 120 different organisations dealing with a particular aspect of healthcare. Number one, do you need 120 different organisations? Number two, how efficient is having 120 different organisations focusing on the same area?