Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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335. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to intervene in a hospital (details supplied) to ensure that staff payroll is not reduced. [33461/16]

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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342. To ask the Minister for Health if annual funding to a hospital (details supplied) has been reduced in respect of its day-to-day running costs. [33494/16]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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348. To ask the Minister for Health if a hospital (details supplied) is being considered for an increase in the rate per bed under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [33511/16]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the funding shortfall at a hospital (details supplied); and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that local management is seeking cost savings through wage restrictions across non-nursing, nursing and management sectors. [33513/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 342, 348 and 350 together.

Cobh Community Hospital is a voluntary organisation providing long term residential and short term care. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support for residents at the facility who are participants in the Scheme. The legislation underpinning the Nursing Homes Support Scheme requires each private and voluntary nursing home to negotiate and agree a price for long-term residential care services with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) should they wish to be an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Scheme. The NTPF may examine the records and accounts of nursing homes as part of the process with the objective of setting a fair price which delivers value for money to the individual and the State.

In negotiating with nursing homes, the NTPF has regard to:

- Costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money;

- Price(s) previously charged;

- Local market price; and

- Budgetary constraints and the obligation on the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.

The NTPF has statutory independence in the performance of its function, and negotiates with each nursing home on an individual basis. The Department of Health has no role in such individual negotiations.

The HSE also provides funding to Cobh Community Hospital under Section 39 of the Health Act. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.