Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Nursing Homes.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

254 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the changes made earlier in 1999 on the means test for nursing home subvention; the income considered; if it includes income of family members; if so, the family members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20750/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The Nursing Homes (Subvention) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998, which I made earlier this year have removed the provision which allowed health boards to assess the capacity of adult sons and-or daughters over 21 years of age to contribute towards the cost of nursing home care of their parent. The change is effective from 1 January 1999.

The health boards have been instructed to review the position of all those in receipt of a reduced rate of subvention by virtue of the capacity of a son and-or daughter to contribute towards the cost of nursing home care and any change in the rate of subvention payable will be back dated to 1 January 1999.

The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, allow for the assessment of the income of a married person in respect of whom a subvention has been sought as half the combined income and imputed income of the couple. In assessing the income of an applicant for a subvention, the health board may take into account the value of the following: house property, excluding normal household chattels; stocks, shares; money on hand, in trust, lodged, deposited or invested; interests in a company or business of any kind, including a farm;interest in land; life assurance or endowment policies; valuables held as investments and current value of equipment of a business or machinery, excluding a car, not covered above.

Further to house property, the value of the principal residence of the couple must be disregarded if it is occupied by a spouse, a son or daughter aged less than twenty one years or under or in full-time education, or by a relative in receipt of named benefits from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. It should also be noted that if an applicant for a subvention has transferred the ownership of a farm in the five years prior to applying, the health board may take into account any payment on transfer and-or any continuing income from the earnings of the farm.