Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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247. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a report regarding meetings he or his officials have held with the board or management of a facility (details supplied) to seek to alleviate concerns for a vital community service; and his views on the ongoing funding concerns. [39097/20]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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St. Joseph's Centre in Shankill is a part of the St John of God Hospitaller Services Group. It provides residential care for up to 60 residents and approximately 120 day care places per week. All service users have a diagnosis of dementia. The majority of the residential places receive funding support through the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS). Separately, the HSE contracts for approximately 25 Day Care places per day at St Joseph’s.

The NHSS, commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has been designated by the Minister for Health pursuant to Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 as a body authorised to negotiate with proprietors of non-HSE registered nursing homes to reach agreement in relation to the maximum price(s) that can be charged for the provision of long-term residential care services to NHSS residents.

As part of this function, the NTPF will enter into "Approved Nursing Home Agreements" with registered private and voluntary nursing homes to record the maximum price(s) that have been negotiated. It will be appreciated that particulars of all such negotiations and reviews are a matter between the nursing home and the NTPF. Accordingly, the NTPF does not discuss publicly the details of negotiations with individual nursing homes.

The NTPF has statutory independence and as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, I have no role in NHSS price negotiations. I understand however, that engagement through the established mechanisms has occurred.

You will be aware that a wide range of financial and non-financial supports related to COVID-19 have been made available to the private and voluntary nursing home sector. Among other supports, this includes the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme for Nursing Homes, now extended to June 2021, and the ongoing provision of PPE. I encourage St Joseph's to ensure that it is availing of all relevant supports during this time.

I am committed to supporting the nursing home sector especially during these unprecedented times and officials and I meet regularly to discuss a range of matters with sector representatives.