Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Tadhg Daly, chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, and other visitors in the Gallery who run family nursing homes the length and breadth of our country. Nursing homes all over the country, including west Cork, have serious concerns about the ongoing crisis in the funding of nursing home care under the fair deal scheme. For what is now a long-standing basis, private and voluntary nursing homes such as those about which I speak have been dealing with severe, sustained financial pressures in the provision of care for residents. Their costs have increased dramatically in the past three years. This has not been matched with an increase in the funding support they receive through the fair deal scheme. Allied with the squeeze on fees payable, it is now proving extremely difficult to recruit staff. This is leading to rapidly increasing wage costs. The increased use of home support services has also resulted in individuals staying in nursing homes for longer, meaning that those entering a nursing home are now older and of higher dependency. Nationwide, this has led to more than 30 nursing homes closing in the past three years along with 915 resident beds. Nursing homes are under exceptional cost pressure. The Government needs to take urgent action to support them and fellow providers who inform me they are in a similar predicament.

Already, in the past three years, more than 900 people have been displaced, causing great upset and trauma for people who are moved from their local communities. If action is not taken soon by the Government, more closures will follow, causing further upset and trauma for old people, and pressures upon our health services will increase significantly. The crisis requires urgent attention.

I pay tribute to nursing homes throughout west Cork, in Skibbereen, Bantry, Drumalee, Clonakilty, Kinsale and Belgooly, which give the best service they can to people. These are vital local healthcare and employment providers. One nursing home in west Cork employs 65 staff. I urge the Government to act as soon as possible.

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