Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Health in the context of the fair deal scheme, the way the €30m savings in non-service related spending will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16420/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The key focus of the Minister for Health is to ensure that those who require nursing home care will be able to access it and, to this end, the Department estimates that almost 24,000 people will be in long-term nursing home care by year end. This would mean a net increase of around 1,700 people between now and the end of the year.

In order to fund this increase, and to offset other pressures on the subhead such as increases in average length of stay, cost increases etc., the Minister identified a range of savings and income sources, one of which is a potential saving of up to €30 million in non-service related spending. This funding will come primarily from capital spending which is running significantly behind budget so far this year.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Health the intended increases in charges for long-stay patients in the context of the fair deal scheme; if legislation will be required; the categories of patients that will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16424/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Charges for long stay in-patient services are provided for under Section 53 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended by the Health (Amendment) Act 2005). Under current Regulations pursuant to the Health Act 1970 (as amended), different rates of charges are levied on those patients where 24 hour nursing care is provided and those where nursing care is provided on less than a 24 hour basis. The charges were last revised with effect from 1 January 2009. I intend to shortly bring forward Regulations to give effect to revised rates of charges.

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Health the amount of Health Service Executive money that was contributed towards the cost of nursing home beds in County Carlow in 2010. [16461/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.