Dan Neville
Question:300 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children when directions will be given by his Department to enable the Mid-Western Health Board refund nursing home subvention on foot of the Ombudsman's report. [16573/01]
Vol. 537 No. 5
300 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children when directions will be given by his Department to enable the Mid-Western Health Board refund nursing home subvention on foot of the Ombudsman's report. [16573/01]
The report of the Ombudsman into the nursing home subvention scheme identified a number of issues relating to the operation of the nursing home subvention scheme. It is the intention of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, to bring proposals to Government on 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 the two aspects of the regulations that have the most direct impact on nursing home patients and their families are fully addressed without delay. Arrangements have already been made to enable nursing home patients and their families, who may be due payments arising from the provisions in the regulations relating to the retention of one fifth of the rate of non-contributory old age pension for personal use, to be refunded speedily.