NHI Secures Private Members Bill, Sponsored by Deputies Harkin and McNamara

Tuesday May 7, 2024

Nursing Homes Ireland is in the midst of preparing for the launch of our four week local election campaign. In the buildup to this campaign launch, we have secured a Private Members motion on the challenges facing the nursing home sector.

We are urgently calling on all Members to contact their local TDs to support Deputy Marian Harkin (Sligo/Leitrim) and Michael McNamara (Clare). We thank Deputies Harkin and McNamara for supporting nursing homes.

The motion, regarding Challenges facing the Childcare and Nursing Home Sectors, sponsored by Deputy Harkin, and Deputy McNamara, respectively, will be taking place this Thursday 9th May.

This is a link with the section focusing on nursing home care highlighted:

Private Members Bill – Thursday May 9th

We are urging all Members to email your local TD to ask them to support the motion and to raise awareness of this motion.

You can locate your local TD in this link:

List of TDs

In writing to your local TD, you are taking vitally important action and ensuring that the nusing home sector has a voice. The email can be short and concise, asking the TD to support the motion, and support the following:

Put in place an immediate “stabilisation fund” of €265 million to sustain local nursing home services and to stabilise the sector;
Reform Fair Deal pricing so that Fair Deal rates are based on resource allocation that reflects individual residents’ care needs;
Guarantee the sustainability of the sector by ensuring a balance between the financial viability of providers, compliance with regulations covering health and social care needs, and the strategic planning of supply to meet demand across the entire country; and
Ensure equity of access to the provision of services including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and equity of access to aids and appliances for all older people, regardless of whether they are in a public, private or voluntary nursing home.

If you have any questions on the above, please contact Kevin (Policy & Comms Lead, NHI) at [email protected].

Thank you for your support.