3232. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the methodology and criteria used by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in negotiating and setting Fair Deal rates for private and voluntary nursing homes; whether that methodology is published in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60732/26]

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are the body designated, under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, as a body authorised to negotiate with proprietors of HIQA registered private and voluntary nursing homes, to reach an agreement in relation to the maximum price(s) that can be charged for the provision of long-term residential care services to Nursing home support scheme (NHSS) residents. Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on NTPF cost criteria.

The objective of the NTPF is to agree a price with each nursing home that offers value for money to the state having regard to the following criteria:

a) costs reasonably and prudently incurred by the nursing home and evidence of value for money.

b) price(s) previously charged.

c) the local market price.

d) budgetary constraints and the obligation of the State to use available resources in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.

The NTPF carry out this role independently under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations which are conducted and agreed between individual nursing home providers and the NTPF.

Further information about the NTPF engagement with nursing home providers, including information about the negotiation process, can be found at this link: www.ntpf.ie/information-for-nursing-homes/.