It has been revealed that private nursing home groups are continuing to receive millions of euro in taxpayer funding for Covid outbreaks.
But Minister for Older People Mary Butler has said that the scheme will come to an end this month.
The Minister wrote to private nursing homes last month saying that “now is the appropriate juncture to end this scheme”.
Minister Butler said she understood the sector was struggling with costs and was “determined to reverse the trend of smaller and family- run nursing homes leaving the market”.
The private nursing home sector has received €220 million in Covid supports, with Limerick-based Mowlam Healthcare receiving €5,833,829 from the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS), according to a report in the Irish Independent.
Mowlam Healthcare is the second biggest operator in the country with 25 homes and 1,462 beds. The majority shareholder in the business is Irish investment fund, Cardinal Capital.
In addition to Covid payments, the private nursing homes industry also received an additional €72m for the purchase of personal protective equipment and oxygen.
Commenting on the supports, Mowlam Healthcare chief executive Michele McCormack said the company “incurred significant costs during the pandemic, in order to protect residents and adhere to strict public-health guidelines”.
