Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

668 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children if the guidelines for assessing applicants for nursing home subvention will be raised to the equivalent of the guidelines for assessing people for social welfare benefits; the steps he will take to correct this anomaly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1843/01]

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

The second schedule of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, sets out the general rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for a nursing home subvention. "Means" for the purposes of these regulations are the income and the imputed value of assets of a person in respect of whom a subvention is being sought and the income and imputed income of his or her spouse. Section 9 of the regulations states that "a health board shall disregard the first £6,000 of any asset or assets owned or enjoyed by the person in assessing the value of assets available to a person applying for a nursing home subvention to fund his or her nursing home care."

Means are assessed for this scheme to ensure that the available funding is directed at those older people who have the greatest need of financial assistance. As part of an overall review of the nursing home scheme, my Department is currently examining a number of aspects of the Nursing Home Regulations, which includes a review of the value placed on the savings and assets of each applicant when calculating his or her means.