Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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619. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients in nursing homes on the fair deal scheme in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22354/13]

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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621. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by the Health Service Executive on the fair deal scheme in 2011 and the projected spend in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22356/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 621 together.

As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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620. To ask the Minister for Health when the current cessation of acceptance of fair deal applications will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22355/13]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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624. To ask the Minister for Health if the fair deal scheme has been suspended for existing patients who have applied from acute hospital beds and for those who apply while in care in the community or has the scheme been suspended for those applying for the fair deal scheme while in care in the community; if he will confirm that the scheme has not been ended entirely; and if he will provide an exact date upon which the suspension of the fair deal scheme will be lifted [22389/13]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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625. To ask the Minister for Health when the fair deal scheme will be reopened for applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22394/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 620, 624 and 625 together.

Firstly, I would like to clarify that the HSE did not stop accepting applications for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

On the 15th April 2013, the HSE temporarily suspended the chronological operation of the placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. Instead, funding under the Scheme was targeted at hospitals with the highest number of delayed discharges in an effort to alleviate pressure in Emergency Departments. The hospitals targeted were the Dublin Academic Teaching Hospitals (DATHs) and CUH.

It is understood that the HSE will re-commence the chronological operation of the placement list with effect from 9th May 2013. This will ensure that funding is available to people in the community, people in nursing homes and people in acute hospitals other than the DATHs and CUH.