Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have some questions on private nursing homes and the cost differential. Reference was made to geography. There is also the issue of staffing ratios. I ask the witnesses to keep their answers concise. The staff-to-patient ratio in the public nursing homes with which I am familiar is higher than that in private nursing homes. Does Mr. Reid believe the level of care is also a factor? I refer to the variation in cost around the level of care, patients being higher dependency and staffing ratios. Are those issues, along with the fact that staff having better rates of pay, major drivers of public nursing homes being more expensive?