There are commitments in the programme for Government relating to home care packages and home helps or home care assistants, as they are now called. Why are the HSE and Department of Health insisting on new contracts being negotiated with home care assistants? What is the logic behind this? It is a tried and tested plan. The home helps have delivered a fantastic service, in both urban and rural areas. What is the thinking behind the Government, the HSE and the Department of Health changing the contracts of those providing home care?

I have no information on contracts and no involvement in the matter. If the Minister for Health does, I will ask him to provide a reply to the Deputy. Contractual matters are generally not dealt with at ministerial level.