Ms Laverne McGuinness:

In terms of the home help service and the amount of money in the home help service budget, there is €195 million available in respect of home help. In terms of home care packages, there is in the region of €140 million available. I do not have the exact numbers - I can come back to the committee on that - because they fluctuate and change from time to time. Primarily in the Dublin, mid-Leinster and Dublin north-east region, a lot our services are provided through contracted arrangements whereas in the west and the south they are primarily provided by direct provision.