Nursing Homes Ireland Welcomes €10 Million Residential Premises Upgrade Scheme
Monday February 17, 2025Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) welcomes the launch of the Nursing Home Residential Premises Upgrade (RPU) Scheme, announced today by Minister for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell T.D. This €10 million initiative aims to provide financial support to support private and voluntary nursing homes as a contribution to the costs associated with enhancing compliance with regulatory standards in respect of premises.
Read the RPU Scheme guide here.
Under the scheme, each qualifying nursing home can receive up to €25,000 in funding for structural and essential works that improve compliance with Regulation 17 (Premises) of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013. The scheme is open for applications from Monday, 17th February 2025, until 14th November 2025, and covers works carried out between 1st January 2024 and 14th November 2025.
A Welcome Step for the Sector
Tadhg Daly, CEO of NHI, welcomed the scheme but emphasised the need for sustained support:
“Such supports for nursing homes are welcomed, but we must ensure that these supports are followed by Government action to ensure that nursing home care is sustainable and equitable for all, now and into the future. This fund is a contribution to the significant costs of providing high quality nursing home care and is welcome acknowledgement of the funding challenges of a sustainable nursing home care sector.
“One immediate priority, which we have relayed to the Minister, is the publication of the Fair Deal pricing review within the first 100 days of the Government’s formation. The pricing review is essential for establishing a fair and sustainable resourcing model for the nursing home care.
“One off supports while welcome do not address the underlying issue, and we remain committed to working with Ministers MacNeill and O’Donnell to address the challenges of ensuring sustainable high-quality care in communities throughout Ireland.”
The Need for a Long-Term Vision
NHI has consistently highlighted the urgent need for a cohesive, person-centred approach to long-term care that recognises the evolving needs of Ireland’s ageing population. The RPU Scheme provides immediate relief for essential upgrades, but NHI continues to advocate for policies that ensure nursing homes remain fully integrated within Ireland’s health and social care framework.