Mr. Seán Flood:

The process is not a procurement one. It is a negotiation process. When we engage with a nursing home we send out a renewal pack. It fills in all of the operational and financial data. We also get its financial statements which have been audited or signed off by an accountant. We also carry out our own financial analysis. It is all part of the process. We do it under four criteria. One of those is the cost reasonably incurred and value of money to the State. We make an offer and it is then a decision for the nursing home whether or not to accept it. We do a detailed financial analysis of each nursing home.