Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the expenditure of €969 million, Dr. O'Reardon indicated that with 24,000 residents this year, that figure will hit more than €1 billion. I acknowledge the comments by the HSE witnesses regarding the 80:20 split as between public versus private provision. In terms of agency staff costs for the HSE, there does seem to be an inequality - if one wants to call it that; disparity might be a better word - between public and private nursing homes. I hope that will be addressed within the work of the value for money group or in any of the other reports that are being done. There is a perceived inequality in this area and that needs to be addressed. Certainly, in terms of the staffing costs detailed in the report of the audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the sheer volume of agency staff being used needs to be addressed because it is going to drag up those costs. Ultimately, the public is paying for it.