Feb 10, 2026 | News
Shane Scanlan, CEO, met with Minister for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell TD and Department of Health Ireland officials today to discuss a range of urgent policy and operational priorities for the nursing home sector in 2026. Shane was joined by Liny Raju Meparathil, Director of Nursing, Carysfort Nursing Home.
The discussion focused on practical reforms that will directly improve sustainability, fairness, and resident care, including:
- Amendments to the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act (2009) to incorporate a Cost of Care Model
- Changes to the Valuation Act (2001) as amended to remove residents’ bedrooms from commercial rates assessments, recognising that these rooms are people’s homes, not business space
- Progressing regulatory improvements with HIQA, including greater transparency on ultimate beneficiaries from nursing home operations to ensure consistent oversight across all registered providers
- The impact of NTPF deed changes to digitised contracts, and the need for an independent review mechanism where rate negotiations break down
- Workforce sustainability, including adjusting the Irish and EU 50 /50 non-EEA staffing rule to 40/60 to reflect current demand and realities facing the sector
- Increasing availability of incontinence wear from the HSE to better meet residents with higher dependency needs (4 to 6 in 24 hr period)
- Introducing another financial support scheme similar for Nursing Homes to last year’s RPU scheme which the Minister committed to progress, with details to follow
- Pressures arising from visa MAR threshold increases, auto-enrolment costs, and wider operational inflation
We also acknowledged the significant budget secured this year for the Nursing Home Sector. The priority now is ensuring those funds flow through to the nursing homes and residents who need them most.
Jan 21, 2026 | News
Shane Scanlan CEO, delivered another training session on regulatory compliance with the fantastic nursing team at Carysfort Nursing Home today.
Alliance members are experiencing very high levels of compliance with various regulators at present, and we couldn’t be prouder.
If your nursing home has training or regulatory compliance needs, contact The Alliance Care Academy today on 069 31024.
Jan 13, 2026 | News
Shane Scanlan, CEO attended Leinster House today on both days to discuss important issues with elected officials from both Government and opposition on behalf of our Alliance Members.
Dec 16, 2025 | News
Shane Scanlan, CEO attended Leinster House today to discuss important issues with elected officials from both Government and opposition on behalf of our Alliance Members. Topics discussed included detail on parliamentary questions to submit to relevant ministers, proposed increases to MAR threshold for VISA holders and also the requirement for an independent review to support HIQA in carrying out their functions more effectively
Dec 11, 2025 | News
It’s time to modernise how we fund care for older persons in Ireland
For too long, the Nursing Home Support Scheme has relied on an outdated “bed, board, and laundry” model, which fails to incorporate essential elements of care that it is meant to fund.
Since 2023, The Alliance Supporting Nursing Homes have been calling on the Government to implement a Cost of Care Model that accurately reflects the real needs of residents and the actual costs of delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
Our proposed Rosetta Model includes
- A base rate for each resident, updated annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- Additional funding linked to each individual’s dependency level, ensuring funding follows the resident, not the facility.
- Further funding support for additional services, specialised models of care, de-congregated settings, and geographical considerations.
© Rosetta Care Limited
This model is fair, transparent, and grounded in the actual cost of providing safe, high-quality care, rather than an outdated funding model that no longer represents the reality of modern nursing home services.
This model ensures that older persons can choose the service that best meets their needs, whether public, private or voluntary, and that their funding for care remains intact and follows them across all services specific to their individual care requirements.
We urge the Government to act now and adopt a funding model that genuinely supports residents, families, and the staff who care for them every day.
Dec 9, 2025 | News
Shane Scanlan, CEO was on Radio Kerry to discuss the reopening of Ocean View Care Home in early 2026
Link: Reopening of West Kerry’s Only Private Nursing Home – December 9th, 2025 | RadioKerry.ie
Sep 25, 2025 | News
The Alliance was delighted to be in Limerick City to attend the annual coffee morning in aid of Milford Hospice, organised by Minister for Older Persons, Kieran O’Donnell TD
Huge admiration for the incredible work done daily by the staff at Milford Hospice. Their dedication to providing compassionate care and support to patients and families is second to none.
A wonderful event for a wonderful cause.
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.
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
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.
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.
Jun 7, 2025 | News
🎙”2 Tier approach to Nursing Home regulation…we have to question the effectiveness of HIQA🎙
The Alliance – Supporting Nursing Homes contribution on RTE Drive Time in the wake of the Prime Time Investigates exposé.
Take a listen 🎧
Link: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22518456/
