Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Amendments Nos. 27 and 28 propose to remove the right of the HSE to appoint a suitable person to value assets and stipulate that any valuation must be undertaken by an independent third party. First, it should be noted that individuals will be submitting their own valuations alongside their application form for State support. As such, this provision is merely a necessary safeguard within the legislation. It provides for the right of the HSE to undertake valuations at its own expense, which is imperative from the perspective of accountability and the HSE's audit functions. Furthermore, this amendment will be problematic as the HSE will meet the cost of any valuation requested under section 10. As such, it is questionable whether the valuer authorised and funded by the HSE could be deemed to be an independent third party. It is, therefore, not proposed to accept amendments Nos. 27 and 28.

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