Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1366: To ask the Minister for Health when the fair deal review will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19052/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The NHSS will be three years in operation in October 2012 and the review will commence shortly. The reason for allowing this period to elapse is to ensure that trends and statistics will be available in order to inform the work. The review will look at, amongst other issues:

o the ongoing sustainability of the scheme,

o the relative cost of public versus private provision,

o the effectiveness of current methods of negotiating price in private and setting price in public nursing homes, and

o the balance of funding between residential and community care.

The views of relevant stake-holders will be considered as part of the review.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1367: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the placement list for the fair deal scheme; the number of applications yet to be processed completely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19053/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1368: To ask the Minister for Health the mean average waiting time from the time an application is made to the fair deal scheme to the time it is approved; the average waiting time for persons on the placement list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19054/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1369: To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19055/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1367 to 1369, inclusive, together.

There were 2,800 applications for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme in progress at end-March. Applications continue to be processed on a daily basis. Since the start of 2012, an average of 900 applications per month have been received by the HSE. On average, applications take between 4 to 6 weeks to process, from receipt of completed application to date of determination. Depending on the level of complexity of the individual case, processing of the application may take longer. For example, in cases where ancillary state support is sought, additional factors may impact on the timeframe, i.e. the HSE must establish Title of a property before a decision can be made. Establishing Title can be a lengthy process in some cases.