Private nursing homes support
Deputy Colm Burke seeks clarity on when extra budget funding for private nursing homes will be paid, citing closures and rising costs. The Tánaiste has no timeline yet but says the Government accepts higher costs must be reflected in payments.
Additional money has been made available in the budget to give further support to private nursing homes.
However, there is concern that the Department has not engaged regarding when this money will be made available. As the Tánaiste is aware, 16 nursing homes have closed since January. We need to get people out of hospital and into step-down facilities and there is an urgent need for that additional support to be given. There has been a significant increase in costs in the past two years, along with the current increases in energy costs, salaries and wages. There is a need for engagement to occur. Could a timeline be put on that?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. I am afraid that I do not have a timeline on it. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, or the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to revert to the Deputy in that regard. The Government acknowledges, however, that the cost of running a nursing home has increased, whether that is staff costs, energy costs or regulatory costs, and that needs be reflected in the payments they receive from the Government. That is what we intend to do. It is true that about a dozen nursing homes have closed recently, but a similar number have opened and it is important to bear that in mind as well.