Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and very much appreciate him taking the time to deal with this matter which concerns a cost analysis undertaken in the HSE of the provision of home care services. I raise the issue because, on the one hand, the private sector is being criticised severely for the charges it requires people who need home help to pay and, on the other, is being compared with the HSE in that regard. However, what is not being taken into account are the costs incurred by the private sector which includes insurance costs, organisational costs and the cost of renting premises.These are part of the costs the private sector incurs in providing home care to people around the country. A private provider may charge a contract of €22 or €24 an hour for the service. From that, the provider may pay €12.50 or €13 an hour to a carer. However, there are many other costs which they incur which must come from that overall figure. On the other hand, when the HSE provides a service, the cost of administration is not taken into account. The HSE does not have to pay rates, and insurance is covered by an overall insurance policy for the country. We have never seen a breakdown of the cost analysis of home care provided by the HSE.

While the private sector gives advice to the HSE as to how services should be run, the HSE refuses to take on board these recommendations. However, one now finds those in the private sector are recruited by the HSE to provide exactly the same services the private sector told the HSE it should not deliver to those who require home care. Has a cost analysis been done on how much it costs to provide an hour of home care if the person is employed through the HSE? If not, are there plans for such a cost analysis to be carried out? We need to do it now because we have a growing number of people living longer who will require additional home supports. Over 637,000 people are over 65. In 12 to 15 years, that figure will be over 1 million people. We must develop the home care package and ensure we are getting it in a cost-effective manner. I am not convinced that is happening.