Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to discuss this matter. It is also very important to recognise, when we talk about the HSE, that two, three or four different rule books are in operation. The operational side of the HSE has a different rule book from the estates side of the HSE. They go at two different paces and have two different ways of delivery. To be very fair to the director of services for the south Leitrim area, she wants nothing more than to ensure that there is plenty of adequate respite care for the people of Leitrim. That is for sure.

HSE estates representatives were at the meeting that day. The Deputy is correct that there has been a reluctance since then because two different answers were given. One was about going in with the paint brush and the other was about saying, "Hold on. Maybe we cannot do this because of HIQA, this, that and the other". That is where my office has intervened.

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