HSE director general Tony O’Brien has denied that the caregiver of Grace was unfairly treated, despite underfunding her care to the tune of €600,000.
Grace was left to be sexually and physically abused in a Waterford foster home until 2009 despite concerns being raised as far back as 1992. Her case is now the subject of a commission of inquiry.
An internal audit report, seen by the Irish Examiner, which was completed by consultants Deloitte into the funding issues, confirms there was a dispute over the level of funding to care for Grace since 2009 after she was removed from the foster home at the heart of the scandal.
It calculated the shortfall was over 600 thousand euro.
In his letter to the Public Accounts Committee Mr O’Brien said the HSE believed the funding it had given to Grace’s caregiver was deemed sufficient.
However he said the HSE agreed to update the previously agreed payment schedule for the individual’s care going forward and to pay a High Court-approved settlement of €600,000 for past care.
