Fair Deal scheme funding needs to be changed 'to save our nursing homes', says body

(Left to right) NHI Chair Jillian van Turnhout, Minister Mary Butler and NHI CEO Tadhg Daly. Mr Daly said: 'The pricing mechanism is broken because it is not reflective of the true cost of care.'

The Fair Deal funding scheme for nursing homes needs to be fixed as it pays €33,000 on average less per private or voluntary resident than for HSE residents, Nursing Homes Ireland has said.

A billboard campaign, launching on Wednesday, calls for immediate changes in how this scheme is funded, saying this is needed to “save our nursing homes”.