Mr. Tadhg Daly:

Nursing homes across the country differ in terms of the services they provide. At this stage, it is all maximum dependency because the fair deal scheme has a care needs assessment such that only those who are regarded as maximum dependency are accepted. The average age is now almost 83. The patients are older now and more dependent. There are varying factors but it is a matter for each individual member to negotiate the fee that is pertinent to its operation. The National Treatment Purchase Fund examines all accounts and records. It has full visibility of the nursing homes' individual costs.