Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:310 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children his Department's policy regarding Voluntary Health Insurance cover for patients in private nursing home care; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the VHI only extends convalescent cover to the patients in new nursing homes every three years; his views on whether this discriminates against new nursing homes which will not be considered for cover again until the next review in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10879/03]