Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To ensure the Deputy is not under any illusion, we are not trying to protect private business here. We are trying to ensure there is a fair system. The system currently in place means we cannot provide a block grant. Most of the not-for-profit organisations receive a significant amount of their funding from the HSE. They provide an excellent service and I am not saying otherwise. They provide a service where there is a gap. However, the framework currently in place means we must have a fair system. We are working on the development of a new statutory home care scheme, which is how we will deal many of the issues that are arising at present. I will be happy to meet with the Deputy to discuss the arrangements and the talks that have taken place with regard to the private and not-for-profit organisations.

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