Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Marron for that clarification. I do not accept that it is a choice. People cannot get public nursing home beds. They are not aware that they are entitled to choose. More publicity is needed. I would say very few people realise that there is now no difference between public and private in terms of the assessment. Mr. Marron is right when he says that one is theoretically entitled to pick any nursing home after one has been the subject of a care assessment and a financial assessment, but that is not what happens in practice. Are there any restrictions on the number of beds in Galway or anywhere else? Is it the case that applications can be made in respect of certain nursing homes only? Can applications be made in respect of all nursing homes as long as they are registered with HIQA?