Deirdre Clune
Question:115 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Cork should apply for compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13451/01]
Written Answers - Nursing Home Subventions.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the report of the ombudsman into the nursing home subvention scheme which identified a number of issues on the operation of the scheme. My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, will bring proposals to Government about whatever additional measures may be necessary arising from the ombudsman's report, the expenditure review of the subvention scheme, together with experience gained from the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1993. Our immediate priority is to ensure that the two aspects of the nursing homes regulations that have the most direct impact on nursing home patients and their families are fully addressed without delay.
The provision which allowed for the assessment of the capacity of the adult sons and/or daughters of older people who applied for nursing home subventions to contribute towards the cost of their parents' nursing home care was deleted from the 1 January 1999. It was decided that monies should be paid to those who were adversely affected by this provision. It is anticipated that these payments will cost in the region of £6 million. A group representing the Department, health boards and Eastern Regional Health Authority was established to ensure that this pro cess is carried out on a uniform basis as speedily as possible. However, as you can appreciate, this will be a complex exercise involving,inter alia, difficult issues of traceability, and may take some time to complete. Nevertheless, I can offer assurance that every effort will be made to make payments as quickly as possible. On the particular case raised by the Deputy, as the provision of health services in the Cork area is a matter for the Southern Health Board, I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate and respond to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.