Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Health his plans for a nursing home (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28661/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Health the moneys he has spent over the past five years on improving and upgrading facilities at a nursing home (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [28662/11]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to redeploy nursing staff working at a nursing home (details supplied) should the decision be made to close this facility; and if staff will be employed close to their place of residence. [28663/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 503, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Health if it is the intention of the Health Service Executive to close all long-term stay nursing homes and move patients to private nursing homes. [28664/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that there is a commitment in the Programme for Government under Capital Developments in Health, to prioritise "step down and long-term facilities and community care facilities such as day centres for older people".

The Department is currently reviewing the provision of public residential care in the light of the need to meet national standards and regulations, local demographic pressures and public and private provision. The review will serve as a platform for discussion and will inform the development of an overall strategy on how the HSE should continue to provide this service in future in view of current budgetary and other pressures. The review must also be seen in the light of the wider health reform programme to which the Government is committed, and the position of social care services in a future health service.

The Programme for Government also provided for a Comprehensive Spending Review which is now well under way. This exercise includes a review of health care expenditure. The outcome of this review will determine the health care allocations for 2012 and future years.