In line with a Government decision, an expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme has also been undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance. The objectives of the review of the scheme were, inter alia, to examine the objectives of the scheme and the extent to which they remain valid and to assess the service delivered and to establish what scope, if any, exists for achieving the programme objectives by other more efficient and effective means. The review raises some key questions in relation to the scheme and it is intended to publish it shortly.