Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

To what €500,000 is the Taoiseach referring? He said it would cost €500,000 to improve the software. How did he arrive at that figure?

I am glad that Deputy Roche had the opportunity to read the report but that figure is not in the report, nor does the judge say how much it would cost to renovate this system, if it is capable of renovation. I do not know from where the Taoiseach tosses up the sum of €500,000.

Every day of the week I meet people, as I am quite sure the Taoiseach does, who point out how much €52 million of taxpayers' money would do for respite care for women — it is usually women — who are charged with the responsibility of caring for people with intellectual and other disabilities, or as Deputy Kenny said, how much €52 million would do for the provision of home help. This cavalier decision was made not by one Minister but by two, and approved by the Government in the face of trenchant criticism from outside, impartial experts.

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