Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has met with Nursing Homes Ireland, NHI, the representative body, and continues to do so. At the moment the Government is allocating approximately €1 billion for the care of approximately 22,000 residents on an annual basis. The Exchequer contribution as we speak is quite significant and will obviously grow in terms of demographics and of the fact that we are ageing and living for longer as a people, which is in itself a good thing. It will also, however, create pressures.

There is no doubt that the voluntary sector is under pressure and I accept that in the current inflationary cycle many entities and organisations are under much deal pressure. The Minister of State is meeting with Nursing Homes Ireland, the Department and the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, agency will be giving this very serious consideration. This also has to be seen against a backdrop of what were extraordinary levels of support given to the private nursing home sector by the Government during the pandemic itself.

See this speech in context