Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

David Stanton

Question:

136 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money owed by each health board in respect of the various subvention payments; the plans he has to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19420/01]

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

I presume that the Deputy is referring to payments being made to people adversely affected by two aspects of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993.

The report of the Ombudsman into the nursing home subvention scheme identified a number of issues relating to the operation of the scheme. It is the intention of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, to bring proposals to Government in relation to whatever additional measures may be necessary arising from the Ombudsman's report and 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 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. I am advised by the six health boards concerned that the amounts repaid are as follows:

Midland Health Board	£148,378
Mid-Western Health Board	£251,681
North-Western Health Board	£266,358
South-Eastern Health Board	£373,416
Southern Health Board	£246,839
Western Health Board	£218,751.98
Total paid to date	£1,505,423.98

Where payments are still outstanding, the boards involved have been instructed to make the necessary arrangements to complete these payments as a matter of urgency.

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 1 January 1999. As the Deputy is aware, it has been decided that moneys 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 and the health boards-Eastern Regional Health Authority has been established to ensure that this process is carried out on a uniform basis as speedily as possible. As soon as this group has issued its recommendations as to how this issue should be progressed, all boards will be advised accordingly. However, as the Deputy can appreciate, the issue of making payments will be a complex exercise involvinginter alia difficult issues of traceability, and it may take some time to complete. Nevertheless, I can offer assurance that every effort will be made to make payments as quickly as possible.