Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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It is not just about nursing homes closing. I spoke to one nursing home manager during the week. The home has 14 beds which it cannot get up and running because it cannot attract staff with what it can afford to pay staff. It is fine saying there is only a reduction of 514 registered beds but how many beds in private nursing homes are not being used because nursing homes cannot get staff as they cannot give them the rate of pay the HSE can give? It is difficult for a nursing home to balance opening a bed with what will cost to do so and what it will get under the fair deal scheme. It must decide whether it is more beneficial to leave the bed unoccupied than lose further money. This particular nursing home had 14 beds that were not being used.