Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this issue, as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on the matter. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where this is appropriate. We continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country to ensure quality and patient safety.

The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as Lifford Community Hospital and the Rock Hospital in Ballyshannon. All developments must be addressed in the light of the current economic and budgetary pressures. The executive has been asked to make a rigorous examination of how existing funding might be reconfigured or reallocated to ensure maximum service provision is achieved. This requires a stringent ongoing review of the application of the resources currently available.

The integrated services directorate is the executive's directorate responsible for the delivery of health care services. I understand that, in line with what is happening throughout the country, the HSE in County Donegal is reviewing its use of resources and facilities for residential care in the county. The factors relevant to this process in County Donegal include compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 and the national quality standards for residential care settings for older people in Ireland; staffing and resource issues; residential care needs; the options available in public and private nursing homes and the HSE's capital programme to replace and-or upgrade existing facilities. On completion of the review, the executive will be in a position to outline any proposed changes arising for HSE facilities in the county.

The Senator will be aware that the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act was signed into law on the 1 July 2009 and that the scheme commenced last October. The scheme equalises State support for individuals in public, voluntary and private long-term nursing home care. This meets one of the objectives of Towards 2016, namely, that State support be indifferent as to whether a person is in public or private care. Individuals contribute towards their care based on their income and the value of their assets, with the safeguard that no one will pay more than the cost of his or her care. The introduction of the scheme eliminates the financial need for people to seek public nursing home care. This allows older people to choose to receive residential care in a wider range of centres, including those which would be closer to their homes and families.