Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Health the total number of public nursing homes at respective locations throughout the country; the number of patients therein; the number of such patients requiring long-term high dependency nursing care; the extent to which a similar profile of patients is accommodated in private nursing homes; the basis on which comparisons have been made between the cohort of high dependency patients in private and public nursing homes with particular reference to cross comparison; the extent to which it is proposed to meet the needs of high dependent patients in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8386/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The latest validated information from the Health Service Executive reports that there are currently 128 public residential units in operation across the country providing 7,954 beds (this includes temporary closed beds). Of these, 5,914 are designated long-stay beds under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS). e balance (2,040) provide short-term care, i.e. rehabilitation, respite, convalescent and palliative care. The breakdown of these beds is set out in the following table.

The Department of Health carries out a survey of long-stay units each year. Each long-stay unit (public, private and voluntary) is sent a questionnaire and the responses are collated by the Department. The aim of the survey is to provide statistics on the number of beds available for long-term care, how these beds are used and the types of residents who occupy these beds. The results of the surveys are used to prepare the Long-Stay Activity Statistics Reports which are published on the Department's website.

The Long-Stay Activity Statistics for 2010 (the most recent year available) provides the following information in respect of the Percentage Distribution of Patients Resident by Level of Dependency in long-term care as at 31 December that year. The Deputy should be mindful that these are self reported survey results.

Survey Response Rate - 80%

Table B6 - Long-Stay Units by Category: Percentage Distribution of Patients Resident by Level of Dependency

The HSE is currently piloting a single assessment tool that will uniformly assess dependency levels.