Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Based on the figures the Minister of State gave us, the average cost of home help per hour is €23.80. I know because I used to represent the staff that the cost of a directly employed HSE home help is between €13 and €16 per hour. The last time Fianna Fáil was in government, I remember well marching for decency for home help workers. I welcome the party's conversion. The rate is €16 per hour if everything, including holidays, is factored in. How can the Minister of State explain the figure of €23.80? Does he agree that directly employed home helps represent the absolute best value for money? Every single shilling spent is spent directly on home care, rather than the big corporate entities to which the money is being funnelled. These entities are in it to make a profit. The HSE does not have the profit imperative, nor do the not-for-profit bodies, the motive of which is to deliver care. Every cent goes into delivering that care. Does the Minister of State agree that directly employed or voluntary staff are better value for money?

See this speech in context