Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

121 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has information at his disposal with regard to the inflation in the cost of nursing home care since 1993; if so, if he will provide details of the increase in each of the years since 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21817/00]

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

The Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, does not impose any restriction on private nursing home charges, as this is a matter for determination by the proprietors of individual homes. Accordingly, my Department has no function in relation to the setting of private nursing home fees nor does it compile information on charges.

The health boards provide subventions to assist persons in meeting the costs of nursing home care; however, it was never intended that subventions would meet the full costs involved. There are three rates of subvention – £70, £95, £120 – in accordance with three levels of dependency – medium, high, maximum. While there has been no increase in the subvention rate, the amount of funding allocated to the scheme has been significantly increased by this Government. The total expenditure on the scheme is estimated at £38.4 million. This compares with £4 million in 1993. In the current year, additional funding of over £5 million has been allocated to the health boards to provide for an 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. The question of an increase in the rate of subvention is being kept under review in the light of competing demands for other improvements in services for older people.