Mr. Pat Healy:

There is a variety of reasons; there has been diversity across the system. An important benefit of having a post like my own, as national director of social care, is that it brings a specific focus to the area of disability in the elderly. What we are now able to do, and what we have done in the social care operational plan for the year, is bring a specific focus to this, give it the priority it requires and start to roll it out in a consistent, measured way. Of course there are resource issues, which we have talked about. It is necessary to put in place the appropriate process. We need to put in place the appropriate policy procedures and guidance. One needs to have consultation locally. The type of discussion we have had needs to be engaged in, and that is what we are now doing. I regard this as very positive. I am positive about the future in regard to rolling out a consistent model across the country.

There will, of course, be an issue of resources. The positive aspect of this is that there has been an allocation of €4 million this year. We are saying clearly we are going to drive that out and ensure we do the recruitment. As I stated, we must target waiting list initiatives and so forth in the meantime. We do not have the benefit of the kind of arrangement the education sector has whereby once a need for a class has been identified, a dedicated and agreed resource can be obtained. We are not in that space.