Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding in place for contract beds; the waiting lists to obtain such a bed; the breakdown of these waiting lists on a regional basis; her views on making extra funding available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26087/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The number of contract beds nationally in May 2008 was 3,106. These beds are funded from within the HSE's overall allocation in respect of long-term residential care for older people. The Minister currently has no plans to make additional contract beds available. However, the Minister is introducing a new Nursing Home Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, which will replace the existing subvention scheme and the system of charges for public beds and introduce a transparent uniform system of support towards the cost of care that will be fair to all, irrespective of whether they are in public or private nursing homes.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to provide information on the waiting lists for contract beds. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.