Dr. Kathleen MacLellan:

The Senator raised a number of issues regarding codes and local placement forms. Mr. O’Regan might respond to those when the HSE comes in. On funding, we do not have a complete picture. Different funding streams are being used. There are different supports coming through from the disability services to support some of the fair deal funding as well. Individuals are accessing day services or they are being supported through transport and so on. We need to get a full, accurate picture, so that we can identify the best supportive funding mechanism. That is part of what the steering committee will look at through its action plan. They will do a mapping exercise so that we can quickly get a handle on that and make some decisions and recommendations around the funding pieces. There is a strong approach to where they cannot admit new people into nursing homes through that assessment process. Earlier, we described the importance of a case-management approach, so that there is ongoing reassessment and engagement with individuals and nursing homes. That is critical, so that we can continue to meet the needs of those individuals. The Senator described very well how people may change their will and preference. They may consolidate their will and preference over a number of months, as they adjust to new lifestyles and new places. We accept that there will be significant work to get this right around the future funding mechanisms, the ongoing assessment processes, the initial assessment processes and particularly around the use of strong assessment tools like interRAI or the Imosphere assessment tools. We accept that we need to build those assessments to get the placements right for those individuals.