Vol. 530 No. 3
183 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is intended to increase the notional nursing home fee limit on which top up payments are based in addition to increasing the three rates of subvention by £30 from 1 April 2001 in relation to nursing home subvention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3920/01]
The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, are administered by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. There are three maximum rates of subvention payable – £70, £95, £120 – in accordance with three levels of dependency – medium, high, maximum – which are eligible for subvention. It is the intention to increase these rates to £90, £120 and £150 with effect from 1 April next.
When the Deputy is referring to top up payments it is assumed he is referring to the provision in the regulations whereby a health board may pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency, for example, in cases where personal funds are exhausted. Sections 22.3 and 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, permit health boards to contract beds in private nursing homes and to pay more than the maximum rates of subvention in such cases. The application of these provisions is a matter for the individual health board concerned in the context of meeting increasing demands for subventions within available resources.
184 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure that it is the Western Health Board that is contacted in relation to the nursing home subvention for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo and not the North Western Health Board as outlined in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 652 of 30 January 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3921/01]
When it was drawn to my attention on 2 February last that the parliamentary question, asked on behalf of a person in County Sligo, was appropriate to the Western Health Board, I immediately arranged to have the details forwarded to the chief executive officer of the board for investigation and direct reply.
