John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to consult with private nursing home operators regarding their costs and the cost of providing beds for public patients; if he sees any merit in establishing a forum made up of all stakeholders, including HIQA and the National Treatment Purchase Fund, to discuss costs and developments in the sector and future care of the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30641/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme is due for formal review commencing in 2012. The Scheme will be three years in operation at that stage. The reason for allowing this period to elapse is to ensure that trends and statistics will be available in order to inform this work. The review will look at the ongoing sustainability of the scheme, the relative costs of public versus private provision and the balance of funding between residential and community care. The views of relevant stakeholders will be considered as part of the review.