Mr. Robert Watt:

The point I am making Deputy, and this is what we are trying to establish with the review, is whether there is evidence to suggest that the care needs of residents in various settings differ and, if they are the same, how are the costs different? It is not a question necessarily of us saying we are not providing enough support for the private settings; we are asking why is there such a large differential. Ultimately, the State is picking up the tab across all settings. Generally, with regard to the fair deal scheme, the allocation is €1.4 billion. That is taxpayers' money. Some 23,000 to 24,000 people benefit from the scheme. There is an enormous challenge in terms of its sustainability and how that relates to home care supports.