Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 287: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in long-stay care or beds in both the public and private sectors throughout the country; the total such requirement; the degree to which waiting lists exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20724/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is estimated that 23,750 older people are in long term residential care with a total provision, public, private and voluntary, of approx 30,000 places altogether. The overall place number includes long-stay, respite, convalescence and palliative care beds. These consist of over 10,000 public places in Health Service Executive (HSE) facilities and 20,000 places in private and voluntary settings nationally.

The Health Information and Quality Authority had registered 593 designated centres for older people in accordance with the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2009 (S.I. no. 245 of 2009) on 31 December, 2009. These consisted of 450 private nursing homes, 124 nursing homes run by the Health Services Executive (HSE) and 19 nursing homes run by voluntary organisations.

As the Deputy is aware, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is now the single system of financial support for individuals who require long-term nursing home care. The scheme applies to public, private and voluntary nursing homes. The HSE is provided with a set level of funding for the scheme each year. While it is hoped that there would be sufficient funding to support everyone, there may be situation where a person's name must go onto a waiting list until funding becomes available. If this is the case, the HSE will notify the individual. There is no waiting list for funding at present.