Nursing Homes Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Tánaiste and Minister), Department of Defence

Intent: NHI requests that nursing home services be explicitly incorporated into all future national emergency plans and in the current climate ensuring that staff have prioritised access to fuel during periods of disruption. This measure is necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of residents. NHI propose engagement with Office of Emergency Planning on a shared commitment to develop an agreed protocol for our sector for future events and to work collaboratively on an inclusive national emergency plan.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health

Intent: NHI remain seriously concerned that the Department's capacity planning focuses exclusively on public provision, this needs to include private and voluntary provision.NHI urgently requests a support scheme for nursing home sector to offset the increased energy costs and ensure sustainability. Nursing homes are in fixed fees under Fair Deal

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Defence; Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health

Intent: NHI requests that nursing home services be explicitly incorporated into all future national emergency plans and in the current climate ensuring that staff have prioritised access to fuel during periods of disruption. This measure is necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of residents. NHI propose engagement with Office of Emergency Planning on a shared commitment to develop an agreed protocol for our sector for future events and to work collaboratively on an inclusive national emergency plan.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health

Intent: NHI sent to the Minister's office data that demonstrates the sustainability challenges based on the price realities facing nursing home providers in the current climate, - largely because nursing homes are (unavoidably) high users of energy and the sustained crisis in the Middle East has seen energy/fuel prices remain high. NHI highlights how vitally important Government supports for the nursing home sector during the current energy/fuel price increases are and the sustainability of the sector.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell (Minister of State), Department of Health

Intent: NHI request Minister to provide the opening address at our Annual Conference and Care Awards. The Conference is the nursing home sector’s biggest event and brings hundreds of healthcare providers and staff from Ireland together to discuss issues on how to meet the health and social care requirements of our ageing population. NHI would value the Minister attending the Care Awards as it is an important opportunity for the Minister to celebrate the achievements of those working in nursing Homes.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Shay Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Paul Lawless (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marie Sherlock (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To inform the oireachtas members of the challenges the private and voluntary sector are facing and to brief them on NHI Insights Paper and its findings and the capacity challenge that we face as an ageing demographic and also to brief them on the NHI Scorecard 2026 report on the commitments in the Programme for Government.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: David Cullinane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig Rice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Thomas Gould (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Brady (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mattie McGrath (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Sorca Clarke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Manus Boyle (Senator), Seanad; Tom Clonan (Senator), Seanad; Teresa Costello (Senator), Seanad; Nicole Ryan (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To inform the oireachtas members of the challenges the private and voluntary sector are facing and To brief the oireachtas members on NHI Insights Paper and its findings and the capacity challenge that we face as an ageing demographic and also to brief them on the NHI Scorecard 2026 report on the commitments in the Programme for Government.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: NHI seeking clarification on how the projected increases reflected in the DETE preliminary estimates account for the increased cost of the MAR. It is unclear where these additional costs have been incorporated into the funding allocation under the NHSS, and this lack of clarity raises concerns regarding the sector’s capacity to sustain high quality care for residents across Ireland. Considering these concerns regarding funding, we requested that this data is provided to NHI by return.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Jenny McCormack (Special Adviser), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: For the amendments discussed to be applied to the Employment Permits Act 2024 with urgency

Methods: Phone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Grace Rothwell (National Director for Access and Integration), Health Service Executive

Intent: For NHI and the new RHA's to work in a cohesive nature ensuring integration of the nursing home sector and the vital role of nursing home care in the community. HSE to brief NHI on new RHA internal structures and management roles that were due to be in situ in early March.

Methods: Virtual Meeting