Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8029/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The budget for the Scheme in 2015 is €948.8m, which reflects an increase of €10m from the 2014 position. This increase of €10m is part of the initiative to tackle delayed discharges and has provided for an additional 300 long stay care places under the NHSS. The budget for 2015 is expected to provide long-term residential care for 22,361 people.

The review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme which is currently in progress will include consideration of the balance between community and residential services as well as the future financing and sustainability of the Scheme. It is expected that the review will be completed by the end of this quarter after which it will be made publicly available.