Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that she is here on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. I welcome in her statement the commitment by the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to review this. However, my specific question was about pay rates, which should be addressed sooner rather than later. The regulations were introduced in 1993. In her statement, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, said that is now being recommended that we would look at enhancing this model. The numbers are dropping off. She mentioned that there are only 17 registered care homes at the moment. Why is this so? It is because people are not able to financially to maintain them.

In theory, we might be saying that this is a brilliant model that we would love to expand but if we are not rewarding the people who are providing these fantastic facilities, there will be more and more dropping off. If the pricing model alone is not dealt with immediately, the next time we are back before the House having this conversation, I can guarantee the Minister of State that the figure of 17 that she quoted will have decreased and not increased, irrespective of how the Department or the HSE may value the model or think that it needs expanding.