Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

David Stanton

Question:

126 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of nursing home subvention for each of the years 1998 and 1999; the cost in the year 2000; the number of people benefiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13190/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

The budget for nursing home subvention in 1998 was £24 million, £33 million in 1999 and the allocation for 2000 is £38.4 million. There are currently approximately 6,095 persons in receipt of nursing home subventions.

There are three rates of subvention payable, £70, £95 and £120, in accordance with three levels of dependency, medium, high and maximum, which are eligible for subvention. Considerable additional resources have been allocated to this scheme in recent years. For example, in the current year additional funding of £5.4 million has been provided to meet the cost of the additional expenditure which is due to a number of factors. These include the increase in the number of people in receipt of subventions, their higher levels of dependency, resulting in more people receiving the higher rates of subventions, and the change in the regulations whereby the ability of adult sons and-or daughters over 21 years of age to contribute is no longer taken into account. My priority is to ensure that health boards have adequate resources to meet increasing demands. The question of increasing the rates of subvention will be kept under review in light of the availability of funding and competing priorities.