The cost of keeping a patient in a HSE run nursing home is as much as €700 a week higher than private facilities. 

Nursing Homes Ireland say the state is abusing its position by paying its own nursing homes 53% more than private ones.

They say the new HSE data shows the state is paying one home more than €4,000 a week.

NHI CEO Tadhg Daly said: “The State is discriminating in a scandalous way against private and voluntary providers.

” The State is operating a two-tier funding system and has fought for five years not to disclose these figures. It is unacceptable that private and voluntary providers are forced to provide care for fees way below those paid to the HSE counterparts.”

Minister Simon Harris says there are more complexities with some public nursing homes: “I don’t think it is as simple as comparing and contrasting one with the other.

“There is a complexity of need in the public nursing home sector, I’m sure there is some in the private sector, but I think what we will have with the publication of this report is is a very clear list of the cost of nursing home care and the differention of public and private.”