I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 to 683, inclusive, together.
On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning home help contracts and in the event that there are any outstanding issues they may be referred back to the Court. The HSE engaged with SIPTU concerning the recommendation and advised that as part of the process it would be undertaking an information gathering exercise to ascertain the up to date position regarding the nature of the contracts held by home helps and the hours worked under such contracts. This exercise is in train.
On 15 October 2012, having met with the parties again, the Labour Court has recommended that the parties should re-engage under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission and that this engagement be completed by 30 November 2012. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the allocation and monitoring of home help hours to a private company in respect of the period indicated.