Vol. 446 No. 3
284 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a first cousin is a family member as defined under Section 105 of the Nursing Home Regulations, 1993; if he will investigate a situation whereby the Southern Health Board is refusing to give the maximum subvention to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will ensure that this decision is reversed. [2173/94]
The main purpose of the subvention scheme provided for by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990 is to ensure that dependent persons most in need of nursing home care will have access to such care.
I understand that the case referred to by the Deputy involves an individual who was resident in the nursing home prior to September 1993. In such cases section 10.5 of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993 permits health boards to abate the subvention payable by reference to payments being made on the persons behalf on the day the Act came into force, 1 September 1993, regardless of the source. These payments are not limited to immediate family members.
