Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the Minister of State with regard to community care and voluntary organisations. However, it is not possible in some communities to do that, particularly as towns grow to become cities and people are not as neighbourly. They do not know their neighbours as well as was previously the case and that community benefit is lost. I am delighted that it is there. Could the Minister of State let me have a note on how much is paid to private providers nationally and the number of hours they provide? They appear to have a significantly greater payment for the individual service they provide than the individual worker. However, it has to be a career, and it has to happen now.

The other point is one on which we all agree. There is a large number of people who are inappropriately in nursing home care. They do not need to be there and they are charged a fortune. In many cases they are getting excellent care, but in others they are getting very poor care. They need that care at home. That is the place to be. All supports we can provide there would be very welcome. I look forward to the Minister of State's national recruitment drive and I welcome her involvement with the Minister of State, Deputy English, with regard to access for people outside the EU.

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