Mr. Tony O'Brien:

We cannot give commitments to individual proponents of projects. The rate paid per bed is determined by a process managed by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, which is a separate statutory agency under the aegis of the Department of Health. The NTPF takes account of a range of factors in determining the price. We recognise, however, that increasing numbers of people will be able to avail of the nursing home scheme and for this reason the level of demand for beds is only going to increase. That in itself will make projects bankable. The reason we cannot give a specific commitment on any nursing home is because the resident makes the fundamental choice as to the nursing home in which he or she wishes to stay. We do not send people to particular homes.