Nursing Homes Ireland held a briefing here yesterday to outline the very real crisis facing the sector, one that is laid bare in black and white in a report prepared by PwC. In the past three years, 950 beds have been lost, mainly in rural and regional areas. Some 31 voluntary and private nursing homes have closed, a number of which were in Roscommon and Galway. The report makes three recommendations. I ask the Minister of State to consider the recommendations, including funding via the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, for nursing homes. They care for our most vulnerable citizens and it is a great shame to think so many lose their homes and have to move. That is not what they deserve. I ask the Minister of State to read the report that has been prepared and consider its recommendations.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. My adviser was present at the briefing yesterday. I was not able to attend due to other meetings outside. This year, the budget for fair deal is €1.5 billion. That is more than my mental health budget. It is more than the amount of money that is provided for the whole South/South West Hospital Group. It is one-twentieth of the entire health budget to support 22,500 people. I have to make sure that the budget lasts from 1 January until 31 December. Any nursing home that is currently renegotiating its deal has seen an uplift of between 6% and 7%. That is a fact. I have also extended the temporary inflation payment scheme, TIPS, a €10 million fund to support nursing homes since 1 July last year to the end of June this year in tackling inflationary costs. There is €5,250 available for per month for nursing homes, but the average drawdown of 81% of nursing homes is €2,800. I will continue to invest in the sector. However, at the same time we have to be cognisant of the fact that I have a budget and have to adhere to it.