Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 6

Written Answers. - Nursing Homes Subventions.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

73 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the subvention level currently available from health boards to the elderly who are using nursing homes in view of the rising costs of such nursing homes particularly in the Dublin area. [3417/96]

Jim Mitchell

Question:

74 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if health boards are permitted, when assessing means of applicants, to take into account both reasonable outgoings as well as income in relation to nursing home subventions paid under the Nursing Homes Act; and if outgoings are not deductible from means he would consider amending the regulations and guidelines. [3446/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together.

The subvention scheme which accompanied 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.

Article 8.1 of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, obliges a health board to follow the procedures set out in the Second Schedule to the regulations when assessing the means of a person who has applied for a nursing home subvention. The Second Schedule defines income to include wages, salary, pension, allowances, payments from part-time and seasonal work, income from rentals, investments and savings and all contributions from a separated spouse or other person. Income from all sources in the twelve months preceding the date of application may be taken into account. The objective is to establish the weekly disposable income of the person seeking a subvention. Income tax payments, mortgage repayments, pay-related social insurance payments and other statutory contributions should be deducted from the gross income in arriving at the net amount. As can can be seen from the above the health boards take into account reasonable outgoings when assessing an applicant's means for subvention and I am satisfied, that there is no need to amend the regulations on this point.

The current levels of subvention and the position of those dependent elderly who have no funds other than their non-contributory pensions are amongst the various aspects of the scheme which have been examined by a working group, comprised of officials of my Department and the health boards, which reviewed the operation of the Nursing Homes Act. I understand that the group has finalised its report and I expect to receive it in the coming weeks.