Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding nursing home charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33388/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires all private nursing homes and voluntary nursing homes to negotiate and agree a price for the cost of care with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to participate in the scheme. This is a necessary feature of the scheme due to the commitment by the State to meet the full balance of the cost of care over and above a person's contribution.

The NTPF has statutory responsibility for the negotiation of prices with private and voluntary nursing homes. The NTPF is independent in the performance of this function and, in carrying it out, it must ensure value for money for both the individual and the State. The NTPF negotiates with each nursing home individually and may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process. This method of negotiation is necessary in order to ensure that the State obtains the best value for each individual in a nursing home and to comply with competition law.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care. The services which fall within the scope of long-term residential care and which are covered by this cost are:

nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person,

basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living,

bed and board, and

laundry service.

Individuals who avail of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme should not be charged any additional fee over and above the cost agreed with the NTPF, except where he or she chooses to obtain additional services over and above long-term residential care services, for example, hairdressing, social programmes or the delivery of daily newspapers.