Vol. 532 No. 3
123 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had to date with the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on the issue of providing long-term care; if a joint consultancy study has been established by both Departments to look into this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7345/01]
In 2000, my colleague the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs initiated a consultancy study on the future financing of long-term care. The study is examining the strategic issues involved in financing long-term care and will encompass the financing of personal long-term care needs both in the community and in institutional care and the potential of the private sector or a combined public-private sector approach to develop new initiatives in this area.
A steering group on which my Department and the Department of Finance are represented is overseeing the work of the consultants. The study will be completed by the middle of this year.
