Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A subject like this is very difficult to deal with in a minute. If we look at the new one that will be built in Clifden, it was supposed to be 50 beds but has gone back to 40, inexplicably, when there is great demand. Look at the inexplicable vacancies in Áras Mhic Dara in Carraroe. I am trying to find out the waiting lists for Carraroe and Merlin Park. I do not expect the Minister of State to have this information at her fingertips but I expect to be able to get it at my fingertips quickly from the source. Going back to Aperee, I am extremely concerned that we have promoted a private system. More than 81% of nursing homes are owned privately, most for profit. Here we are with Aperee and the HIQA report for the home in Galway. One has to look at it. It was non-compliant with fire regulations, staffing and other matters. The energy of the Health Service Executive is going into taking back private nursing homes that have failed on governance and other issues. We are not going ahead to roll out a public system; it is down at 13%.

On Mulranny, which is outside my area, I know the man there. The nursing home wrote to the Minister in October. It is a not-for-profit nursing home. It is struggling and it is a most wonderful example of a nursing home and care.

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