Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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We are back on to section 38 and 39 agreements. The State has outsourced €4 billion worth of delivery of health services under section 38 and 39 agreements, to hospitals that were formerly owned by religious institutions and different bodies. Under section 39 agreements, there is Saint John of God Hospital and the Central Remedial Clinic, and it means that if something goes wrong, the State can say it is one step removed from the process. It is a big policy issue that €4 billion of the HSE budget is contracted out for work to be delivered by private companies. The Committee on the Future of Healthcare should be looking at that.