Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Health if he supports the Taoiseach's contention that older buildings are not suitable for use as public nursing homes. [10327/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the HSE is facing challenges in respect of all services in 2012. In the case of Community Nursing Units for Older People these include, inter alia, challenges around the age and structure of the units. The Minister has requested that the HSE provide him with a plan which seeks to protect the viability of as many units as possible within the funding and staffing resources available.

Any capital development, including grants for the construction or refurbishment of public nursing homes, must be considered in the context of the overall HSE capital programme. This is a multi-annual programme which is developed over a rolling five year period. In drawing up its capital programme the HSE is required to prioritise capital infrastructure projects within the overall capital funding allocation. In order to comply with regulatory requirements, the HSE is now concentrating on the refurbishment and upgrade of existing accommodation.