Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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208. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Service Executive budget; if there will be a shortfall in the budget; if there will continue to be sufficient funds to pay subvention for elderly persons who require long term residential care in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42922/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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It is too early to say whether there will be a shortfall in the HSE budget in 2013.

Significant savings have been required of the health services since the downturn in the economy. The underlying reduction in health spend is over €3bn since 2008, a reduction of 20% in real terms. The number of staff within the health service has reduced by 10% and the population has increased by 8%. Despite this we are still managing to reform and improve the service.

The total budget for long-term residential care in 2013 is €974m. The HSE operates a national placement list to enable it to operate within the budget. All applicants for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme who are approved for funding are put on the national placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application. Funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. The HSE makes every effort to match available funding to demand by releasing funding on a weekly basis.