Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister talks about throwing money at it. I am a former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I am talking about value for money and much better health outcomes for people. Will the Minister not concede that it is ludicrous for somebody to be in an acute bed at enormous cost in an acute hospital when that person is willing, able and anxious to go home but community care cannot provide the money for a home care package? Much more money is available within the HSE to keep them in an acute bed than would be required to provide them with the dignity of going home for Christmas. If the Government cannot solve that conundrum, there is no management, no system and it is dysfunctional.

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