Vol. 542 No. 2
284 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will examine the case relating to an outstanding payment of subvention from the Mid-Western Health Board to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the difficult circumstances surrounding this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23642/01]
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, the health boards and the 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 the Deputy 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.
In the interim, as the provision of health services in this case is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board, I have asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate this matter and forward a report directly to the Deputy.
