Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Health to set out his plans to address the ongoing delays in accessing the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42768/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I am aware that waiting times on the Nursing Homes Support Scheme placement list are now at around 15 weeks. This is a matter of concern for me, and my Department and the HSE are working to ensure that the resources that are available deliver the best possible outcomes for older people. This will require an integrated approach across community, residential and other service areas.

The HSE controls the release of funding to manage the funds that are available across the course of the year. Funding is released to approved applicants according to their place, in order of their approval date, on the national placement list. Over the course of the year to date, demand has exceeded what could be funded and the national placement list has grown as a result.

In July this year, the HSE allocated €5 million for an initiative to improve access to appropriate care for older people. To date, this has funded over 300 transitional care beds for patients in acute hospitals from the placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and over 200 home care packages to assist patients in the acute hospitals who require a home care package to be discharged.

The Government has provided additional funding of €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. This funding will be targeted at hospital and community services which can demonstrate initiatives to address the specific needs of delayed discharge patients most positively and, therefore improve timelines for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists. These will include measures to place patients in more appropriate settings through the use of home care packages and intermediate and long-term care.

The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme which is currently underway will consider the future funding and sustainability of the Scheme as well as how community and residential services are balanced. This Review will be completed in the coming months.