I raise the issue of private nursing homes and the challenges they are facing. Sixteen private nursing homes have closed in recent months and a number of others are considering closing. That is because of what they are allowed. There was a comment recently to the effect that a nursing home that closed was getting €950 per week per bed under the fair deal scheme, while a public nursing home up the road was costing €1,900 per bed per week. What will be done? I understand further funding is available from the Department of Health but there is no engagement with the nursing home sector. This is what they are advising me. I have been speaking to representatives of a number of nursing homes in recent days. We want to make sure there are no further closures. It costs over €8,000 per bed per week in a hospital. We need these nursing home beds kept in place.

I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has raised it several times. To say there has been no engagement with the sector is completely untrue. I was in engagement with it this morning, and so have my officials in the Department. We engage with Nursing Homes Ireland on a daily basis, never mind a weekly basis.

Concerns have been raised about 17 nursing homes that have either closed this year or given notice that they will close. Thankfully, some nursing homes have opened this year so we have not seen a net loss of beds. Notwithstanding that, I am acutely aware of the challenges for small family-run nursing homes and especially the voluntary sector.

It is interesting to note that 15 nursing home organisations in Ireland control or own 10,700 beds. We have quite a differential between one side of the nursing home equation and the other but the good news is I will be announcing supports for the nursing home sector tomorrow.