Mr. Tadhg Daly:

The Minister and the Oireachtas set the legal parameters. The Health Act 2007 and subsequently the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 are set by the Department of Health and the Minister and ratified by the Oireachtas, so that is that element of it. The HSE is the administrator of the scheme so it administers the budget on an annual basis and the NTPF has a role which is confined to negotiating with the private sector.