Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that the health service budget has been reduced by €2.5 billion in the past three years and that the number of health service staff has fallen by 8,000 since 2007. A day has not passed that I have not received a call for a nursing home place.

I thank the Minister for securing the future of the Cottage Hospital in Drogheda and for the investment of over €2 million for works to be done in St. Oliver's nursing home in Dundalk and that it will be up to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, standard in 2015.

In terms of what remains in Louth, St. Joseph's Hospital in Ardee currently has 20 beds. I understand options will be put to by the HSE to St. Joseph's Hospital in the coming days about its future.

As the Minister stated, between the censuses of 2006 and 2011 the number of those aged over 65 increased by 14%. That figure will increase by 18% between 2012 and 2017. The population aged over 65 will increase by approximately 20,000 per year.

The fair deal scheme has been a great success. What investment will be made to allow nursing homes reach the HIQA standard by 2015? Also, in terms of the difference between public and private nursing homes, I am aware that the cost of a private nursing home is approximately €950 per week compared to the cost in a public nursing home which is approximately €1,800 per week. Many people are seeking places in nursing homes. What is the possibility of getting all these nursing homes up to the HIQA standard? These people are very concerned about their future. What investment is envisaged for that in the forthcoming budget?