Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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207. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39256/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All applicants who are approved for funding are put on the placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application, and funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. Funding is released by the HSE on a weekly basis to balance the position across the full year.

At present significant funding pressures exist in the health services generally, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme must operate within the funding available to it and must manage this in the most effective possible way. The position for 2015 will be considered in the context of the Estimates Process for that year, which is currently underway. A review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is currently being undertaken by my Department. This review will consider the long-term sustainability of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme as well as looking at the current operation and management of the Scheme.