Martina - The Alliance

Meeting with Minister of Older Persons Kieran O’Donnell TD – Pre-budget discussion

Sep 2, 2025 | News

Today, The Alliance – Supporting Nursing Homes met with Minister for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell TD for a pre-budget discussion.

Our focus was on practical measures to safeguard the future of family-run and independently owned nursing homes – businesses that are rooted in local communities but often lack the economies of scale of larger providers.

We advocated for:

Sustainable funding under the Nursing Home Support Scheme
In 2023 & 2024, the NTPF delivered larger uplifts in nursing home rates. 2025 has seen a slowdown. With staffing, pensions, energy & compliance costs rising in 2026, stronger, fairer uplifts are urgently needed.
Reform of commercial rates
Rates have risen by more than 50% in recent years, crippling community-based nursing homes. A resident’s room is their home, not a commercial unit. This unfair system penalises providers & residents alike. Change is long overdue.
A cost-of-care model that reflects reality
Providers are working in a funding system that doesn’t match real costs. It’s time to move from theory to practice and make amendments to the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2025.
Continued targeted supports for investment
Operators are modernising care homes through digital transformation, new equipment, and essential capital works. To sustain this progress, existing structured financial support schemes must be continued and strengthened, ensuring smaller nursing home businesses can invest with confidence.

Interview with Midlands 103FM

Jul 20, 2025 | News

Thanks to Sally-Ann Barrett for having our CEO Shane Scanlan on Saturday Focus with Midlands 103 over the weekend.

We had a thorough conversation following the HIQA – Health Information and Quality Authority attendance at the public accounts committee at the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Listen in! 🎧 (interview begins 2 mins in)

Link: https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/saturday-focus/episode/episode-1512/?autoplay=1

Meetings in Oireachtas

Jul 16, 2025 | News

Shane Scanlan (CEO) attended discussions at Houses of the Oireachtas today with elected officials from various parties.

The Alliance is asking for enhanced supports for independent, voluntary and family-run nursing home operators facing financial and operational challenges in maintaining their services and facilities.

Additionally, we are urging for an immediate independent review of both the Health Information and Quality Authority and The Office of The Chief Inspector of Social Services.

Meetings in Leinster House

Jun 9, 2025 | News

🏃‍♂️Busy Day for The Alliance ⏩️

CEO Shane Scanlan met with the Minister of Older Persons Kieran O’Donnell TD, other main political parties in Leinster House.

The Alliance will never ever stop advocating for a fairly balanced regulated nursing home sector where older persons are delivered high quality care and nursing homes are supported to do so.

It’s time for a independent root and branch review of HIQA – Health Information and Quality Authority to deliver better results for an ageing population.

We are calling for HIQA to be invited to the Health Oireachtas Committee and Public Accounts Committee in the wake of the RTE Prime Time Investigates programme.

Only through these mechanisms can we truly analyse what went wrong and create regulatory support that has a real impact on outcomes for people requiring care.