Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

If we had let Anglo Irish Bank go, we would have had to pay the depositors and it would cost much more than we will have to invest. Those who suggest we would let the depositors go do not understand the nature of the deposit base of banks. People should take a more balanced and informed view of the choice between letting the banks go bust and ensuring we do not have to pay out the deposit base of the bank. If the Senator is talking about money, I can assure him we are taking the cheaper option.

The target number of hours for a home help for the west is 3.5 million, the same level targeted as last year. If there is some realignment within the western region, that would be a matter for the HSE regional management and I suggest the Senator takes the matter up there directly. The number of hours is the same in 2010.