Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

Perhaps the Minister will outline how the system will work from the time the person goes into care with regard to the level of contribution and the physical means whereby that contribution is made. We are aware of the current system and the subvention application form. We know how the assessment takes place in the nursing home section and about the appeals process, which is separate. I have every faith in the current system, which appears to work well.

I certainly have concerns about the HSE, and my position on a single organisation running services on a Twenty-six County basis will not change. I am not satisfied with the provision of services, for example, by private operators. We should not lose sight of this. We are talking not only of HSE services but also private operators who provide a fantastic array of services in certain instances where the statutory authorities have failed to provide them. I say that in light of what was just said.

I would like to know how the contribution will work, whether for a private or public bed, and, in the case of a need for a review of the structure to be put in place, how quickly this will be made. Most of us in this Chamber are aware of circumstances in which a family will make an approach, arising from a situation in which the level of payment coming from the HSE is insufficient to meet the need. This is usually in circumstances in which a person is in a private bed. Only because of the goodwill that exists with the private operators will the family be accommodated for many weeks and months. In certain instances an operator will be at a loss at the end if the assessment is not made favourably to meet the need of the individual at the level of charge being made. This happens time in time out and we wait for weeks for cases to go through the appeal process. I ask the Minister to outline how the scheme will work in comparison to the existing system.