Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

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.

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