Everything that is wrong with long-term nursing care in the State was brought home to me recently when a man from Kerry with complex needs who required a nursing home was refused acceptance by every private nursing home in the county. His son, who visited him for the 100 days he was in hospital, now has to drive one hour and 40 minutes if he wants to visit him at a nursing home in Cork. Seven or eight years ago, the discharge nurse at University Hospital Kerry told me that 70 extra beds in the county would solve the problem. Since then, however, the number of public beds has decreased and the number of private beds, which are owned by approximately 15 companies, has increased. Is the Government going to take steps to increase the percentage of public beds so that situations like the one in question do not arise in future?

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. Following a HIQA report some years ago, the Government has invested significantly in the district hospital network across the country with a view to consolidating them and ensuring they are brought up to standard. This was done because of the issue the Deputy raised. One often hears the private nursing home sector complaining about the additional rates, so to speak, or supports given to public hospitals, but that is because public hospitals deal with more acute and complex cases. This gets disputed, but that is the strong view of the HSE in respect of the publicly owned care facilities.

I do not have to hand the background of the situation the Deputy raised, but I presume that a nursing home in Cork took the person because there was not one available in Kerry. I accept that this is not satisfactory or optimal for the family. The Minister is working with and will engage with the private nursing home sector to see what can be done to broaden availability.