Nursing Home Closures in Ireland Reach 77 in Four Years Due to Fair Deal Scheme Costs
Dublin: A total of 77 nursing homes across Ireland have shut down over the past four years, citing unsustainable operating costs linked to the Fair Deal scheme, according to figures from Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI). The majority of these closures have occurred in rural areas, leaving a significant portion of the population—around six out of ten people—unable to access nursing home care in these regions. NHI research highlights the growing crisis in the sector, with 2,600 beds lost in total.
Last year alone saw the closure of 10 nursing homes, and so far in 2023, another seven have ceased operations. The rising costs associated with running these facilities, coupled with financial pressures from the Fair Deal scheme, have been identified as primary drivers of the closures. NHI Chief Executive Tadhg Daly has called the current Fair Deal scheme outdated and ill-suited to the needs of modern healthcare.
However, Minister of State for Health Mary Butler has downplayed the issue, stating that new entrants are continuing to enter the nursing home sector, with 900 to 1,000 additional beds being made available. She also defended the Fair Deal scheme, emphasising that it offers a sliding scale based on income, ensuring that those with higher incomes contribute more while those with lower incomes pay less. The minister noted that 22,300 residents are currently receiving care in nursing homes across Ireland.
Despite these reassurances, industry stakeholders warn that the closure of nursing homes—especially in rural areas—poses a growing challenge, with many families now struggling to find adequate care for elderly relatives. The debate around the viability of the Fair Deal scheme and its impact on the future of long-term care in Ireland is likely to intensify as more facilities continue to face financial strain.
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