Mattie McGrath: Warns of Nursing Home Closures and Calls for Support
Mattie McGrath spoke about the crisis in nursing home provision in Ireland, warning of widespread closures and urging support for family-run and voluntary homes. He criticised the government and the minister for not listening and highlighted disparities in remuneration between private/voluntary homes and HSE services.
Scale of closures
Since 2020 Mr McGrath said there have been at least 31 closures of private and voluntary nursing homes, resulting in 915 beds becoming unavailable, and that 17 homes closed in 2022 alone.
Demographic pressure
He noted that the majority of long-term residential nursing home care is provided by the private and voluntary sector and warned that Ireland's population is rising faster than any other European country, increasing demand for care.
Financial viability and inflation
Mr McGrath argued the viability of operating nursing homes is becoming increasingly untenable amid inflation and rising costs, and said the government is not listening to these sectoral challenges despite CSO warnings.
Concerns about ownership and funding
He criticised a trend towards large commercial ownership, accusing the minister of favouring big companies and external funders over family-run operators, and questioned where some investment is coming from.
Appeal for support for family-run homes
He urged support for family-run and voluntary homes, praising their personal and loyal care, and condemned what he described as discriminatory disparities in pay or remuneration between private/voluntary homes and HSE facilities, calling it disgraceful and suggesting the issue should be challenged in Europe.
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The majority of long-term residential nursing home care in Ireland is provided by the private and voluntary sector, we all know that. As Ireland's population continues to age, the demand for nursing home care is increasing. In fact, Ireland's population is rising faster than any other European country. The changing demographics provide a single biggest challenge to this sector and services. But despite these challenges, the government is not listening. Indeed, CSO has pointed this out clearly, but this is not that either. Therefore, it is crucial to address the challenges facing the nursing home to ensure the availability of quality care for older adults. Since 2020, this motion states that there have been at least 31 closures of private and voluntary nursing homes, resulting in 915 beds of elderly people needing care care. In 2022 alone, 17 nursing homes closed in this country. These closures have created concerns among accessibility and availability of nursing home care, especially for those who require specialised service and support. The viability of operating nursing homes in Ireland is becoming increasingly untenable, and inflation. But, Minister, every whole sector across this country has gone into bed with big business. The same is happening with nursing homes. You want to support the big companies, fund funders. God knows China and God knows where else. Timbuktu for winter. But to be a prime minister, even after Timbuktu may be in state town. The minister has gone already to Timbuktu, we hope, because he would not listen to us anyway. But we are asking you, Minister, to please act here. These are family-run, mainly, and they give dedicated, personal, loyal service, themselves, and their husbands, and partners, and, indeed, siblings, all over the years. And they love to care, and the care they want to give, and they want to look after our loved ones. Listen, we are all facing that, sooner than we think, down along the line. So, please support the families, the family-run and voluntary-run ones, and the discrimination, simply, against the disparity of pay, or renumeration, sorry, that you give to private, voluntary nursing homes and family ones, as to the big, to the HSE ones, is disgraceful. And I hope that somebody will take on, and will challenge that in Europe, because it is just as big as belief that the kind of discrimination is perpetrated by our government. Thank you.
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