Dan Neville
Question:280 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures to be adopted when claiming moneys in respect of the report by the Ombudsman's office on nursing home subvention. [22721/01]
Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.
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.
A group representing the Department and the health boards-Eastern Regional Health Authority was 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 you can appreciate, the issue of making payments is a complex exercise involving, inter 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.
Dan Neville
Question:281 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children his response to the submission from the Mid-Western Health Board seeking additional funding for the provision of nursing home subvention in the mid-west region. [22722/01]
The Mid-Western Health Board has made a submission to my Department in relation to the development of services for older people within its area. This submission will be the subject of further discussion between officials from my Department and the Mid-Western Health Board in the context of the development of services for older people generally, and the agreeing of service plans.