Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Harney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, on the improvements in the funding of services for elderly people. I have three points to make and I ask the Minister of State to take note of them. I have heard there are difficulties in Laois and Offaly relating to travel expenses for those who approve people for home help. People in need of home help in this region are not receiving it. I was told last night that the next meeting between the union and the Health Service Executive is scheduled for the end of October. It should happen now. The difficulties need to be solved because people are suffering while the home help issue is being addressed.

I welcome the meals on wheels service. However, I was involved with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Public Service in highlighting the fact that commercial operators are providing this service in some cases and those in receipt of the service are obliged to pay VAT. This is an anomaly. There is no VAT on services for children's crèches and there should not be any charged to people receiving meals on wheels. Discussions are taking place between the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance and I ask that they be brought to a conclusion. If this requires legislation then it should be dealt with as soon as possible.

I approach the issue of Leas Cross nursing home as a member of the Committee of Public Accounts. I welcome Professor Des O'Neill's report. Who owns this report and has the intellectual rights to it? If Professor O'Neill has the intellectual rights then it is not the property of the HSE. If the HSE has the rights to it they are free to make amendments to it unilaterally without consulting Professor O'Neill. It seems these issues were not satisfactorily addressed when the contract for the report was written. This happens throughout the public service. Those drawing up commercial contracts with outside individuals do not always do what is required. It seems that either Professor O'Neill or the HSE has the right to issue the report or make amendments.

I welcome the additional support and funding the Minister for Health and Children will provide in this area.

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