Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has raised it several times. To say there has been no engagement with the sector is completely untrue. I was in engagement with it this morning, and so have been my officials in the Department. We engage with Nursing Homes Ireland on a daily basis, never mind a weekly basis.

Concerns have been raised about 17 nursing homes that have either closed this year or given notice that they will close. Thankfully, some nursing homes have opened this year so we have not seen a net loss of beds. Notwithstanding that, I am acutely aware of the challenges for small family-run nursing homes and especially the voluntary sector.

It is interesting to note that 15 nursing home organisations in Ireland control or own 10,700 beds. We have quite a differential between one side of the nursing home equation and the other but the good news is I will be announcing supports for the nursing home sector tomorrow.

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