Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This year €1.4 billion will be provided by the Government to support 22,500 people to age well in a nursing home. The purpose of the fair deal scheme is that the more you have, the more you pay; the less you have, the less you pay. No one ever envisaged the fair deal scheme would be used by European conglomerates for profit. The Deputy asked a clear question. I met with Dr. Cowley last week in Leinster House and gave him a commitment to travel. All the details need to be on the table. Unfortunately, due to HIQA compliance rules, Dr. Cowley has to reduce the number of beds in his premises so that he can have single rooms. As a result he lost some funding. I also visited Dr. Harty's voluntary organisation in Ennis.

I agree with the Deputy as regards the voluntary sector. When its members are challenged to comply with HIQA rules, it can be difficult for them because they do not have any reserves. In the coming weeks, I will announce a €10 million fund for nursing homes to become HIQA compliant.

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