Mr. Tadhg Daly:

As I said in my opening statement, this issue goes back to a publication from 2017. That it has not been published is an impediment to a mature debate and discussion on the future and sustainability of residential care services for our older population. We expected the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to publish it in November 2019. He confirmed at our conference that the fair deal was not fair for private providers and that he would publish the review without delay. There has now been a further delay and that is having an impact.

It is important to acknowledge that the Department has put in place a temporary assistance payment scheme, although it is due to run out in June. It is a contribution towards the increased costs associated with Covid.

On the Deputy's point about dependency, at the moment there is a one-size-fits-all pricing model. The issue was raised recently in the Oireachtas by the Committee of Public Accounts, which some members of this committee are also members of. It highlighted in its analysis of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General that there are significant challenges. We will work with the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department to ensure that the report is published as a priority.