Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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443. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the growing waiting list for persons seeking funding under the nursing home support scheme; the funding allocated to the scheme in 2014 and the anticipated funding for 2015; if an initiative is planned to bring down the waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40239/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Funding of €939 million is available to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme in 2014. Allocations for 2015 are not yet finalised. The HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All approved applicants are put on the placement list in order of their approval date and funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally.

I am aware that waiting times on this list are now at around 15 weeks. This is of course a matter of concern for me but limitations on available resources present a real challenge. My Department and the HSE are working to ensure that the resources that are available are deployed in the most effective way possible and deliver the best outcomes for older people. This will require an integrated approach across community, residential and other service areas.