Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The condition is that a nursing home, operating as a nursing home which proposes to build an extension, could use the appropriate funds under this scheme.

We had a request from the Minister for Health to help extend the number of available beds in nursing homes to reduce pressure on the health system. We all know we have an ageing population and that nursing homes are part of the solution. There are pressure points in certain geographic locations. I presume the demand will continue to rise as the age profile of the population increases.