James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of elderly people or patients awaiting funding for nursing home beds per county and per Health Service Executive area, specifically in north Dublin City and County and in total here; her plans in the short term to address the shortfall in funding in this area which is causing hardship and clogging up acute hospitals through no fault of the patients who cannot leave hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34330/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2007, expenditure by the HSE on nursing home subventions was almost €205 million. This year the Government has redirected an additional €25 million from the overall allocation in respect of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, for the purpose of nursing home supports, including subvention. This includes €13 million for the provision of 200 contract beds.

In addition, the long-term residential care fast-track initiative, which commenced in 2007 and is continuing until 2009, aims to provide 860 new intermediate and long-term residential care beds. The latest information received from the Health Service Executive indicates that 188 beds were provided in 2007 and that 325 and 347 are to be provided in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Of these, 75 are in the HSE West, 316 are in the HSE South, 242 are in the HSE Dublin North East and 227 are in the HSE Mid-Leinster.

Finally, the Deputy has asked about the number of elderly people or patients awaiting funding for nursing home beds per county and per Health Service Executive area. 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 consider the particular matter raised. I am referring the Deputy's query to the HSE for direct reply.