Older People's Minister 'not happy' 80% of nursing homes are privately run, Dáil committee hears

Older People's Minister Mary Butler: 'I am not happy that when I came into the system that 80% of beds for older people were in the private sector.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins

Older People's Minister Mary Butler has said she is "not happy" that 80% of nursing homes are run by private businesses, while defending the pace of reforms for homecare funding.

Families in Kerry affected by the controversy in children’s mental health and elderly farmers in need of nursing home funding were also discussed during a sometimes tense session of the Oireachtas health committee, as part of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2024 on Wednesday.