Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of residents in long-term care facilities including both private and public patients for both 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12528/11]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of long-term care facilities here for both private and public patients in 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12529/11]

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the total cost to the Exchequer of providing long-term care in 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12530/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 383, inclusive, together.

In 2010 there were approximately 600 residential centres for older people. It is estimated that there were 23,750 people in long term residential care at the end of 2010 with a total Public/Private provision of approximately 30,000. This includes long-stay, respite, convalescence and palliative places altogether. The HSE Register of Public Beds reports that there were 8661 public beds on 31 December 2010. This figure includes long-stay, respite, convalescence, palliative places and temporary closed beds. Six thousand one hundred and forty seven of these beds were for continuing care.

With the commencement of the registration and inspection of nursing homes under the Health Act, 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations on 1 July 2009 all existing nursing homes had to inform the Chief Inspector of Social Services (part of the Health Information and Quality Authority) of their existence within six months. At 31 December 2009, 591 designated centres had notified the Chief Inspector. One hundred and twenty three of these were public, with a maximum capacity of 7,891 beds. The remaining 468 were private, with a maximum capacity of 21,394 beds.

In 2009 €907 million was provided to fund long term residential care and in 2010 this was increased to €979 million in the relevant Subhead.