Once again, I raise the issue with the Taoiseach of more and more private and voluntary nursing homes closing - 18 last year, two this year already - because they are no longer viable. Before the current cost-of-living increases, it was recognised that fair deal scheme payments to nursing homes were inadequate. There was an 8% increase in inflation last year and 7% is forecast this year. More and more nursing homes, especially those that are smaller and family-run, are struggling to survive, and more will close this year. What is happening is that we are losing existing capacity and while some new nursing homes are coming onstream, overall there is still a net loss of beds when bed numbers should be increased. There is huge demand and the new nursing homes are largely located in cities and larger towns while rural areas are losing their existing nursing homes. I am asking the Taoiseach to act on this.

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government and I as Minister of State working with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, are completely supportive of the nursing home sector. A sum of €1.5 billion will be provided this year to support 22,500 people who avail of the fair deal. Some 80% of nursing homes are run by voluntary and private organisations. Less than 4% of these are voluntary. In the past two weeks alone, I have engaged with Nursing Homes Ireland, The Alliance, a new organisation covering County Kerry up to County Donegal that represents small and family-run nursing homes and Carriglea Cairde Services which also represents nursing homes. In addition, I am in constant consultation through my Department with the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, and anybody who has renewed their deed in the past three or four weeks with the NTPF, will have seen an uplift of between €40 and €90 per person, per week. Moves have been made and I was delighted to receive further support of €41 million from the Cabinet for the NTPF in last year's budget.