Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

It is obvious patients are not getting a fair deal on this issue. From the perspective of the taxpayer, if the Government is spending this amount of money, a cost benefit analysis should have been done. Does the Minister of State know how much it costs the HSE to provide each home care package? Taking into consideration a 25% premium, which comprises the VAT and the profit of the private company at a minimum, is the Minister of State saying private companies can deliver the same quality and type of service at a lower rate than what it would cost the HSE to hire home helps to provide exactly the same service? According to the Government's value for money audits, there is an obligation on the Department to undertake such an analysis to ensure it is getting the best value for the taxpayers' money. Has this been done or is there an intention to do so?

There is no way around the VAT issue because its imposition is necessitated by an EU directive. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, has not managed to do it when answering parliamentary questions in this House and it is highly unlikely anybody else will come up with a solution. Has the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power, ever done a cost benefit analysis on this issue comparing private sector delivery of this service with that of the Health Service Executive?

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