Vol. 571 No. 4
395 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to provide additional support for enhanced nursing home subventions in the ERHA region and elsewhere; the number of people who have applied for this subvention in the ERHA area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21844/03]
As the Deputy may be aware, an allocation of €5.5 million was made available by my Department to the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Southern Health Board in July of this year in respect of the provision of additional beds in the private nursing home sector and ongoing support in the community, to assist older patients whose discharge from the acute hospital sector had been delayed. A total of 245 patients in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area had applied for nursing home subvention under the terms of this initiative, as of the 26 September 2003.
