The Taoiseach and his Ministers are prone to answering questions about rip-off with a sense of denial, but I would like to raise a particular issue. My colleague, Deputy Stanton, has conducted extensive research on the cost of disability equipment here compared to in the United Kingdom. His survey shows that people with disabilities, the Health Service Executive and the taxpayer here pay on average more than 40% higher prices for disability equipment, and in one case more than 100%.

Deputy Stanton's survey looked at 19 basic items that serve disabled people in their daily lives, including mobility equipment, toiletry aids, safety grab rails etc. He found on average that prices here are 40% higher than in the United Kingdom. Five items were over 50% more expensive. For example, the memory foam cushion is €137.83 in UK prices, but €275 in Ireland, a differential of approximately 100%. The prop-up bed wedge used by disabled people is €20.94 in Britain, but €38.30 in Ireland, a differential of over 83%. The grab rail, which is an important aid for disabled people, is €11.54 in England and €17.50 here, over 52% of a price differential. Two very important items are the stair lift and the four-wheel scooter. The 16-step stair lift is €1,400 in the United Kingdom but there is a differential of €611.83 here. The four-wheel scooter is over €770 dearer here.

These differentials illustrate that the taxpayer, the HSE and, most importantly, disabled persons are ripped off by prices of items essential for their daily comfort and convenience. Should there not be a review of these prices by the Competition Authority? Will the Taoiseach instruct it to carry out such a review and investigation to ensure these mini cartels are broken up and that the taxpayer, the HSE and disabled persons get fair treatment across the board and are not ripped off in this manner?

I do not have details on the prices, but if those differentials are as Deputy Kenny states, they are excessive. From the Government perspective, this is an issue for the Competition Authority and it should already be examining it. This may be an issue partly as a result of the significant resources we are now putting into the disability area.

Waste not, want not.

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Some €643 million has been invested into support services for people with disabilities in the past few years. It would be regrettable if investment in the health boards, now the HSE, and resources for additional places, equipment and voluntary agencies resulted in excessive prices because of the extra money and opportunity to sell equipment. Deputy Kenny makes the point that the Competition Authority should examine this area. If agencies or a limited number of people are purchasing, it should conduct an examination.

The Rehabilitation Institute, the Central Remedial Clinic and the other organisations purchase directly and in many cases have the opportunity to buy in multiples. One would imagine they would pass the equipment on to individuals as would the HSE in its various regions. It would be interesting to see how their prices compare with those mentioned by Deputy Kenny. I do not know, but the information should be easily found.

The issues raised by Deputy Stanton in his survey are not theoretical. These items were all priced in late August or early September of this year. The differentials call into question public procurement policy. Does this sort of rip-off apply throughout the public procurement system where other materials are required for various categories of people? Why is this not being investigated?

Some 18 months ago, the post-polio support group brought this issue to the attention of the Department of Health and Children. That Department was happy to announce it would investigate it, but nothing has happened.

Was that Deputy Martin again?

I hope Deputy McGrath supports the legislation.

Deputy Kenny, without interruption.

The Department went on to say the information provided by the post-polio support group would be very helpful in that regard. However, we have examples of 19 pieces of equipment, priced in late August and September of this year, where the average differential in price is over 40%, and up to 100% in some cases. When we talk to people who must sit in wheelchairs and conduct their lives as best they can, we find they are being ripped off. However, the HSE, the Department of Health and Children and the Government are not investigating why this happens.

Will the Taoiseach tell us that he will ask the Competition Authority to investigate this rip-off system? If we apply the difference in prices spent on mobility equipment here, it means that over the past number of years over €40 million has been paid out, €16 million of which could have been used for extra benefits and facilities. It is clear that a rip-off is occurring in this area. The Taoiseach is being advised by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, who has said the idea that rip-offs are taking place in the tourism sector is a myth.

He thinks it is a fairy tale.

He is the wrong man to ask.

He is mumbling to himself.

I remind the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, that we do not live in the land of theory.

The Minister's comment was a Kerry joke.

I have outlined the facts which were uncovered during a survey conducted in late August and early September. I would like the Taoiseach to instruct the Competition Authority to carry out an investigation——

Hear, hear.

——so the mini cartels and the rip-off being imposed on a vulnerable section of society can be dealt with once and for all.

Hear, hear.

The relatively new Act that established the Competition Authority gives the authority significant powers to examine any possible cartel in any sector of the economy. I do not know whether the authority is examining the matter raised by the Deputy. I am aware, however, that every cent the State spends on disability services needs to be categorised by the relevant Department. That is being done, as Members are aware. I will raise the issues mentioned by Deputy Kenny. If such abuse is taking place in a vulnerable sector of society, I agree it should be investigated. Perhaps it is already being looked at. I will outline my concerns in this regard. The Government has invested €2.8 billion in disability-specific services in recent years.

There is no accountability for the spending of that money.

It was wasted.

I hope it was not wasted.

That is the problem.

They will not send in their accounts.

The Government has spent an additional €2.1 billion on services for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities, autism and mental illnesses.

Did the Taoiseach see "Prime Time" last night?

Over €500 million has been spent on the education of children with special needs. Grant aid of €56 million has been allocated to meet the cost of developing accommodation facilities for people with disabilities. Some €63 million has been invested in services for such people through FÁS programmes.

Why are they——

It used to be the case that hardly any money was spent on people with disabilities. Now that we have invested our resources in this vulnerable sector of Irish life, we are getting value for money. If some people in the sector are involved in abuses, the matter should be examined. I repeat the point I made earlier — the vast majority of people with disabilities are covered by medical cards. A great deal of the equipment they need is purchased through the Health Service Executive in the regions and also through a host of other excellent organisations like Rehab and the Central Remedial Clinic.

Does the Taoiseach not mind that taxpayers' money is being wasted?

Is the cost irrelevant?

Such organisations have the capacity to buy in bulk.

They are not doing it.

They would like value for money too.

I assume they are getting value for money because they can purchase——

They are not doing it.

——large amounts of wheelchairs and other instruments to help people with disabilities.

They are not doing that.