St. Joseph's Foundation in Charleville is a section 39 organisation which in essence provides State services for people with intellectual disabilities. It is a valuable service to users right across south Limerick and north Cork. As I have raised directly with the Taoiseach several times, the foundation's insurance premium has gone from roughly €120,000 three years ago to €526,000 now. This is despite the fact that the foundation does not have an open claim at the moment. It is paying more than €500,000 for the insurance premium to keep an organisation going that is essentially providing State services. I know there was an initiative whereby the State Claims Agency would cover organisations that are providing State services.

As far as I am aware, the State Claims Agency only covers public bodies. It would not be possible for it to take on the liabilities of private organisations, whether they are charitable organisations or private companies.