Vol. 500 No. 7
320 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if the situation will be investigated where an application made in May 1998 for a nursing home subvention by a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been decided upon; and if a decision will be made in view of the urgency of the situation. [5308/99]
As the Deputy is aware, applications for a subvention in the Cork area are a matter for the Southern Health Board. In this regard, I made inquiries of the board and I have been advised an application was made in this case in February 1998. This application was refused on the grounds of excess means. The applicant was advised of this decision in a letter of 1 April 1998. This decision was appealed later that month. The appeals officer in the Southern Health Board upheld the board's decision to refuse the subvention and advised the applicant accordingly. The applicant was also advised that it was open to her to reapply after three or four months, should there be a change in her circumstances. I understand that, to date, no new application has been received.
