Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The cost of providing these beds in the traditional way would cost €1 billion — €1 million per bed. The maximum cost of providing them in this way will be €480 million. From a capital cost perspective, the figure saved will be €520 million. We normally paid for all administrative, nursing and other health staff. These will be paid for by the private provider. No group of workers was paid for those patients' care except the consultants. It was not a good system and was not one which people could stand over.

There are competition issues for private providers. Legal and competition issues must be taken on board if a facility in a public hospital can supply a service at a considerably reduced cost because it is heavily subsidised.

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