Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I am not sure if the Minister has yet had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the Irish Nursing Homes Association. If he has not done so, I hope he will as soon as possible. This is an issue in which I have an interest and am involved. Since the introduction of the new rules in February this year, there has been a clear problem for many nursing homes in meeting the 50% rules and in getting carers or nurses who would, in general, be paid less than €30,000.

It is possible a number of nursing homes will have to close wards or curtail numbers in the coming months, particularly as longer-standing Filipino staff go on maternity leave or go on holidays later in the summer. It is an emerging problem in a sector with a long history of Filipino and Indian nurses, in particular, coming to Ireland to work in nursing homes. Labour is not necessarily available from other EU countries.

I am not sure if the Minister has received a request for a meeting yet from the Irish Nursing Homes Association but if he has, I encourage him to meet with a delegation as soon as possible. If he has not yet received an invitation, he will shortly.

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