David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

That is useful. In the Bill health service "means a service (including a personal social service) provided by or on behalf of the Executive;" but the Bill does not define the personal social service. This amendment proposes that a personal social service will include "home care, respite care, personal care and social supports". These are examples only. Other services could be included.

The Minister of State implies that it refers only to residential care. It would be important to ensure we know what this means because the phrase "including a personal social service" will be in the legislation. Who will define that, how will it be defined and how broad is that definition? The Minister of State implied it refers only to residential care but that is not enough. Does a health service provided by, or on behalf of, the Health Service Executive include home care, respite care, personal care and other social supports that people with disabilities might want?

I wish to tease out this matter because it is unclear. I would like to hear the Minister of State's definition of this service. I have included examples of what it might be but the list is not exhaustive. The list is prefaced by the phrase "such as" and could include others. Some of my colleagues have mentioned transport and housing and so on. I do not know how broad or narrow this will be. It would be useful if the Minister of State could tell us what is a personal social service.

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