Vol. 455 No. 4
61 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to amend the current nursing home regulations in order to address the true cost of care to dependent elderly, remove the draconian section dealing with the assessment of adult children of dependent elderly, and recognise as a special category, the many dependent elderly who have no funds other than a noncontributory pension. [12313/95]
75 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties currently being experienced by many private nursing homes in Ireland by reason of the current level of subvention system; his views on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12407/95]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 75 together.
The subvention scheme introduced by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, was implemented on 1 September 1993 and ensures that those most in need of care in a nursing home, and without the means to pay for it, receive assistance towards the cost.
With regard to the assessment of adult children of an applicant for subvention. I wish to point out that a health board may only assess the ability of a son or daughter to contribute towards the cost of the nursing home fees of a parent if the son or daughter is aged 21 years and over, residing in the jurisdiction and possesses sufficient personal income to contribute towards the cost of a parent's nursing home fees as assessed under the procedures in the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993.
Of the 5,806 subventions approved to the end of May 1995, health boards had made a reduction as a result of the ability of the son or daughter to pay in 950 cases or one in six of the subventions approved.
I believe that sons and daughters who are in a position to contribute towards the cost of a parent's nursing home fees should do so. The State recognises this contribution in the tax relief it gives on such payments.
