Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for Health when the National Treatment Purchase Fund's forensic accounting service will be actively investigating Section 39 and 40 nursing homes; if the implementation of the service is on schedule as per previous correspondence to this Deputy; the specific timeframe surrounding this process; if emergency cases will be prioritised such as a case (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30372/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has tendered for a forensic accounting service to support it in its role of negotiating prices with private and voluntary nursing homes under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. Once the tendering process is completed, tasks will be assigned to the successful supplier(s). These will include an assignment to provide factual input to an NTPF review of nursing homes, including the nursing home referred to by the Deputy, which received funding for long-term residential care services under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 prior to the commencement of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The NTPF anticipates, at this stage, to have substantive information for initial review by end August.

There are only 10 nursing homes nationally which received funding for long-term residential care services under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 prior to the commencement of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. Any question of prioritisation will be a matter for the NTPF which is independent in the performance of its function under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.