Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Ms McGuckin has made that clear. I refer to figures on the carer's allowance on page 29 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report. The allowance relates to 65,740 people and the cost involved is €653 million. Obviously, we cannot begin to put a price on the value of what carers are doing at home, most of them at breaking point, out of love for the person they are caring for. On the other hand, we have the nursing homes support scheme, the fair deal scheme, which I call the "unfair deal" scheme, but let us stick to the terminology. The fair deal scheme covers approximately 23,000 people and the cost for it this year is €970 million. We have now reached a cost of €1 billion. It obviously makes sense for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to immediately and urgently look at this matter. Some 23,000 people are in care at a cost of almost €1 billion, and then 65,740 people are struggling, under a pittance, and saving the State a fortune. It is extraordinary that it takes the Committee of Public Accounts to call attention to this and, even then, I understand that the witnesses are restricted and have given a very nuanced answer. Does it not make sense for this to be the first thing to look at, where value for money is concerned?