The NTPF arranges treatments for patients, provides independently assured waiting list information, develops systems and processes which contribute to health system reform, negotiates prices for nursing home care, and provides expert advice to the Minister for Health.
Additional Support Schemes
From time to time the Department of Health allocates resources in addition to core NHSS funding to support Nursing Homes.
The Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (‘REE Scheme’)
The Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell T.D., has announced a new €10 million scheme to support eligible private and voluntary nursing homes. The Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (REE) Scheme is introduced to enhance the daily lived experience of nursing home residents. Under the REE Scheme, enhancements to residents’ bedrooms and bathrooms, personal spaces, and communal areas are designed to support residents’ dignity, safety, independence, privacy, social engagement, and overall wellbeing.
About the scheme
The REE Scheme will provide funding targeted at structural/other works carried out to specifically enhance the resident environment, safety and facilities in nursing homes in compliance with Regulation 17 (Premises) of S.I. No. 415/2013 – Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 (as amended) as it applies to internal and external communal spaces for residents, their bedrooms/bathrooms, and equipment, furniture and furnishings for use by residents.
This scheme is a vouched scheme which is open to all operational voluntary and private nursing homes registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) as of 1 January 2026 and in receipt of payment under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) for the provision of long-term residential care services. Applications from nursing homes not meeting these criteria will not be processed.
The Department of Health is responsible for all policy matters in relation to the scheme and will provide oversight of the scheme. The Department of Health will report to the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell T.D., on the operation and progress of the scheme.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) will administer the scheme and make payments to the nursing homes. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) will administer the application process and provide support and advice to the HSE.
All claims must be made for each nursing home facility on an individual basis.
Nursing homes may claim for works carried out this year between 1 January and 20 November 2026 and also for works undertaken during 2025, between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025, that meet the scheme criteria.
Where a nursing home is making multiple claims, these claims should be submitted in no more than two applications where possible e.g. one claim for the period 2025 and one application for the period from 1 January 2026 to 20 November 2026. The closing date for receipt of applications is 20 November 2026.
Nursing homes whose applications are approved will have their payments processed and released on a quarterly basis by the HSE.
All works funded through this scheme must relate to improving compliance with Regulation 17 (Premises) as outlined in the Scheme Guide.
The Budget 2026 allocation of funding for this scheme is €10 million. The total maximum amount that can be claimed by an individual nursing home under this scheme is €25,000.
Further details of scheme rules are available here.
The Nursing Home Resident Environment Enhancement (REE) Scheme Application Form is available as a download document here.
Queries should, in the first instance, be addressed to REE@NTPF.ie