Limerick East): The waiting lists for health board long stay homes for the elderly vary from health board to health board depending on the stock of beds available. Some boards have short waiting lists but the Eastern Health Board have long lists as their supply of public places is relatively small.
The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993 under which applicants are assessed for subvention, do not compel any individual to sell his or her home in order to pay for nursing home care. Indeed, when assessing an individual's means and circumstances the principal residence is treated as a special asset, and is not taken into account where the house is occupied by a dependent spouse or relative. Where it is not so occupied and income from the house is imputed, based on notional value. In the final analysis, the disposal of an individual's house to fund nursing home fees is a private decision and a matter of consumer preference over which I, as Minister for Health, have no control.
I am satisfied that the Nursing Homes Act, subject to regular review in its operation, is capable of meeting its objective, which is to provide assistance towards the cost of nursing home care for those who cannot do so from their own resources. I am aware that there are certain difficulties being encountered by some providers and persons seeking nursing home care. I will continue to endeavour to address these problems within the resources available to me.
In relation to the Eastern Health Board, we have been endeavouring over the past few years to increase the number of public nursing home places. Fifty additional places have been provided in Peamount and 17 in Leopardstown Park Hospital. New community nursing units and day facilities have been opened in Cuan Ros, Navan Road and on the site of the old Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital. In addition, between January 1995 and January 1997 the Eastern Health Board has contracted 90 beds in private nursing homes.
