I am asking for increased State funding for supported care homes in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. Supported care homes like Mount Carmel Supported Care Home, Callan, St. Fiacc's House, Graiguecullen and St. Lazerian's House, Bagenalstown, to name just three across the constituency that I have visited, provide a vital service to their communities, helping to prevent social isolation in elder years while maintaining an older person's independence. Without doubt, they truly are a home away from home. Supported care homes, even though they are subject to Health Information and Quality Authority inspection and operate under HIQA standards, are, unlike nursing homes, deemed ineligible for funding through the previous residential safety improvement scheme and the current residential environmental enhancement, REE, scheme. They need to fundraise in the community to meet these costs. Can the Taoiseach review the eligibility for the current REE scheme so participation in the nursing homes support scheme ceases to be a requirement or introduce a separate funding scheme that supported care homes can avail of to help meet the financial costs of upgrades to their premises, improve resident comfort and meet regulatory standards?

Sentiment score: 0.57