Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

We are developing a much more flexible approach in dealing with home care packages. In some instances, people are given the money when they can provide the required service themselves. We have entered into discussions, as I outlined already, with the view to reaching a situation where this service can be provided without VAT. If we can do so, we will be in a position to provide a far greater number of home care packages throughout the country. As I mentioned, we have already increased the availability from 1,100 last year to 3,000 in 2006. In the first six months of this year, an additional 1,800 clients became in receipt of home care packages.

I will investigate what Deputy Murphy said about delays in payments and respond to those concerns at a later date. I appreciate the difficulty such delays would cause.

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