Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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A few issues jump out at me regarding the fair deal scheme. First, a large measure of the money goes into private nursing homes. Second, I refer to the cost differential. I have read the paper and, therefore, I take the point around pay and conditions. One can only assume that the conditions of some workers in private nursing homes are not great if one is to be discreet about it. According to Mr. O'Brien's figures, the cost per bed per week in a private home varies from €695 to €1,235 while the budgeting is much more generous for public homes ranging from €884 to €2,089 per week. I would like him to talk the committee through the mechanics of how those figures are arrived at and I would like to begin with the private nursing homes. Is it correct that the NTPF has a role in this? I would like him to explain how the rate is struck in private nursing homes and the system for the cost of care.