Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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982. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he will take to meet the previously committed funding requirements of a facility (details supplied) in order to alleviate the concerns of staff, patients and families connected to this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12007/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

It will be appreciated that particulars of all such negotiations 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 in the performance of its function and negotiates with a nursing home on an individual basis. Ministers do not have any role in this regard.

I met with the board of St Joseph’s Shankill on Friday 22nd January, at which we discussed their concerns regarding finances and agreed to keep working together on this issue, whilst noting the statutory independence of the NTPF and the price-setting process. I recognise that this is a time-sensitive matter for the St Joseph's Board therefore I have requested that officials identify any other options available and assess their viability as a matter of priority.