Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue I wish to raise relates to the provision of home care. I have raised it on a number of occasions. There is a need to grow the service across the country because more people will require home care and we want to keep people out of hospitals and nursing homes. My concern is the policy of the HSE at present. I understand that the HSE cost per hour to provide home care is approximately €35 per hour per person. That is based on the cost of administration and paying the person providing the home care. Private sector providers are charging €24 per hour. That is made up of administration costs, insurance, whatever else is involved and paying the carer.