Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)

One of the problems we have in relation to the public and private nursing homes is that the average cost of a bed in a private nursing home is around €1,250, while the average cost in a HSE public nursing home is €1,969. There is a gap of €700. Some of the private nursing homes are running into difficulties because of the funding issues. In this case, the nursing home was no longer able to operate. When we take it over, there will then be additional costs.

Is it not a problem that if this occurs again, an additional cost will be incurred in taking it over? If additional funding was provided from day one, it might obviate the need for that facility to close down or to be taken over by the HSE, which involves an additional cost being incurred by the HSE.