Ms Anne Clarke:

On the paperwork and communicating directly with providers on the ground, there have been attempts to make communication. For instance, before the NCS was introduced, people across the board said the hourly rate was not going to work because it is not our system. We work and are regulated as professionals, working part time and full time, so why would an hourly rate suddenly be thrown into the equation? The hourly rate was proceeded with and it is not working.

Just recently, there were meetings around the country on the new charter of accounts. I attended a meeting in Navan and the message was "No, this ain't going to work and why can't it be done X or Y way?" The next thing we got a letter on 24 October saying it was going ahead. It is very hard when the Department is not listening. It may take on board what we are trying to say, but it is not listening and it is very frustrating to constantly feel we are battling every move it makes. I do not mean to focus on the accounts issue alone, but it means services that do not have this system must pay for a second set of accounts. The Department let us know on 24 October it wanted the validated accounts for 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023. At this time of year, many people will be going through their accounts. Their financial year could be from January to December and all of a sudden the Department wants to use a different financial year. There was a circular sent out with it. The Department should have let us know. Instead, the whole sector is in a commotion at the minute because people are worrying about where the money is going to come out. The accountants are going to have to do this. The Department insists on the accountant signing off on it. Many people went to their accountants and were asked where they were going with it. They were told there was not a hope in hell, so we are stuck in the middle. Talking to providers on the ground - I can only speak about the people I work with in Cavan - is frustrating. I wonder where we are going. This is a top-heavy thing, as has been said around the table.