Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Taking 2012 as the base year, a budget of almost €1 billion in financial support was provided to more than 22,000 people in nursing homes.

For 2013 the HSE's national service plan sets a target of 22,700 people to be in receipt of financial support towards the cost of long-term nursing home care by the end of 2013.

It is quite clear that nursing homes are an important resource in the range of care services available to older people and my Department recognises the valuable contribution the private nursing homes sector makes. I acknowledge that the sector plays a key role in meeting the long-term residential care needs of a great many older people. It is with this in mind that the sector is already an important participant in the ongoing consultation with all stakeholders and the public in general. This is already a standard feature of the Department's approach across policy areas, including services for older people. For example, during 2012 extensive public consultation was carried out as part of the development of the national dementia strategy.

When the nursing homes support scheme commenced in October 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The reason for allowing this period to elapse is to ensure trends and statistics will be available in order to inform the work done. The terms of reference for the review of the scheme include an examination of the overall cost of long-term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating or setting prices. There has been extensive public consultation on this process and a summary report on the submissions received is available on the Department's website. Work will continue on the review in the coming months with a view to completion by the end of this year or early next year.

The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and his colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Alex White, together with departmental officials, regularly meet stakeholders to discuss policies, services and developments. Officials recently met Nursing Homes Ireland, from which they are always happy to receive suggestions and other inputs. Officials have recently met representatives of the private home care providers.

Deputy Eamonn Maloney's main request was for reform in order that people's views might be properly appreciated and assessed. If what I have outlined is the case, as I presume it is, that has happened. If an additional working group needs to be established before the end of this year or early next year, I presume the Minister will have no difficulty in that regard, particularly given that there has been much discussion thus far. I will ensure he is aware of the Deputy's request and respond specifically to him on the net issue.

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