I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 154 and 155 together.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the provision of convalescent care to persons who have completed the acute phase of their illnesses and who require a level of care more appropriate to their needs. Convalescent care is provided in community nursing units operated by health boards and in nursing home places contracted from private nursing homes.
The cost of providing a nursing home place in a community nursing unit in the Dublin area is approximately £25,000 per annum, with this cost being somewhat less in other parts of the country. The cost of contract nursing home places also varies from region to region. However, in the eastern region I am informed by the Eastern Health Board that the cost is approximately £22,000 per annum. The reasons for this difference in cost include the higher staff ratio in community nursing units coupled with the higher levels of dependency of patients.
Norms for health board services for older people were set out in the 1988 report entitled The Years Ahead – A Policy for the Elderly. The norms for long-term care beds outlined in this report have been met by health boards but with the increasing population of older people, it is widely accepted that there is a need for significant further investment in community nursing units, particularly in the Eastern Health Board region, to meet the needs of older people who require longer term care. In this connection, I am preparing a national strategy on services for older people which will include the provision of additional convalescent, respite and residential places when the need for such care is required together with a comprehensive range of support services in the community. Since this Government came in to office, significant additional capital and revenue resources have been invested in services for older people. Newly constructed community nursing units will be opening in the coming months in a number of locations throughout the country which will bring on stream approximately 300 additional extended care and respite places. I have earmarked resources as part of the national development plan to provide additional community nursing units as well as upgrading existing long-term care and other facilities.