Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Health if cost comparisons of the cost of public versus private nursing homes include the cost to the taxpayer of tax foregone to the Exchequer by way of tax reliefs. [14034/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services. The services which fall within the scope of long-term residential care and which are covered by the cost of care 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.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 requires the Minister to lay details of the goods and services which constitute long-term residential care services in public nursing homes before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The full list of goods and services which was laid before the Houses is available on the Department's website at: http://www.dohc.ie/issues/fair_deal/cost_components.pdf?direct=1

The list of goods and services set out in the Deed of Agreement between the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and each private nursing home that is approved for the purposes of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is consistent with the list of goods and services which was laid before the Houses.

Tax forgone is not included when calculating the cost of care. It is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.