Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that a number of nursing homes have closed this year, with several new closures notified in recent weeks. I know that these closures can be very upsetting for staff and residents. The closure of any nursing home reduces bed capacity and puts pressure on other local health and social care facilities, including acute hospitals.

Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is the most important thing and work to alleviate the concerns of residents must continue. They and their families remain my continued focus. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close, residents and their families must be consulted with and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and they can be moved in a safe, planned way. Furthermore, there is a legal requirement that providers must notify the regulator of their decision. They must give at least 6 months’ notice to HIQA if they intend to close. This provides residents, their families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively.

The Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €144 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Government has now agreed to extend TAPS to the end of the year by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support. Substantial additional supports have also been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.

A significant fund of up to €100 million has been allocated this year to support community-based service providers who are such an essential pillar in the provision of health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the Health Service Executive (HSE) to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community.

For providers of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, funding will be allocated in parallel with the established mechanism of the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. Precise details of the scheme are being finalised and will be communicated in the coming days.

It should also be noted that the Department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from the review of the NTPF pricing system published in June 2021. In addition, the Department is also taking forward the nine recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home costs published last December.

In response to the strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) has been established. The Group has been working to a tight timeline and published a report outlining a set of recommendations on 15 October which I strongly endorse. These recommendations will be progressed immediately via a dedicated Implementation Group.