Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Minister for Health if, in the interest of persons being able to access residential senior citizen care in their own communities and in the interest of a greater number of bed opportunities for older persons no longer able to live independently, he will restore the previous entitlement of citizens living on this side of the Border to access residential nursing home placements in facilities close to where they live but located on the northern side of the Border and provide a full entitlement under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11992/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme does not extend to nursing homes in Northern Ireland. This issue was given careful consideration before the Scheme was introduced in 2009. The decision not to extend the Scheme to Northern Ireland was taken by the Government of the day on the basis of legal advice received from the Office of the Attorney General.