Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With all due respect, that is a lovely outline of my question but not an answer. I specifically asked how these changes will improve the service. The HSE failed to provide an adequate service and put it out to tender. A third party will now provide the service and the only difference that this will make is that the HSE will be able to blame the third party. Is that all the Department of Health is interested in doing here? That seems to be the case, based on the response from the Minister of State. I am sorry to say that the response from the Department is very poor.

The HSE is transferring responsibility for respite services at Seaview House to a third party. That is all that is happening here and I cannot see how that will improve the service. I ask the Minister of State to explain how that will improve matters. The only way the service can be improved is by improving working conditions for staff. I ask how the transfer of responsibility for service provision to a third party can help.

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