Vol. 541 No. 2
477 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to review the means test for qualification for nursing home subvention payments; if he will increase the rate of subventions paid; and he will make a statement on the matter. [21540/01]
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. 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 the Deputy will be aware, in line with a Government decision, an expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme has been undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance. It is the intention of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, to bring proposals to Government in relation to whatever measures may be necessary arising from the expenditure review and experience gained from the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1993.
There are currently three maximum rates of subvention payable £90, £120, £150 – euro equivalent: 114.28, 152.37, 190.46, respectively – in accordance with three levels of dependency, medium, high, maximum, which are eligible for subvention. I remind the Deputy that the new rates, which represent a 25% increase, were introduced on 1 April last.
