Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 1

Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.

Bernard Allen

Question:

36 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions or communications his Department has had with the Department of Finance regarding a possible change to the system of assisting families who have to place their elderly relatives in nursing homes. [5831/02]

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

In line with a Government decision on value-for-money reviews, an expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme was undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance. The aims of the review process are: to provide a systematic analysis of what is actually being achieved by expenditure in each programme; and to provide a basis on which more informed decisions can be made on priorities within and between programmes.

The purpose of this review was to address the following issues: the operation of the nursing home subvention scheme and the extent to which current objectives are being met; the efficiency, effectiveness and equity implications of the current subvention scheme; the need and the likely future demand for private nursing home care; the supply of nursing home care in the future; the role of the nursing home sector in an integrated public-private care system; the role of the social economy in an integrated, community-based, long-stay care system; optimal funding arrangements for long-stay care; and the major policy questions for the future.

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 this expenditure review, taking into account the Ombudsman's report, together with experience gained from the operation of the scheme since its inception in 1993.

The Deputy might also like to know that in 2001, additional funding was sought by my Department to implement the provisions of Article 10.6 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993. This provision allows health boards, in addition to paying the appropriate subvention rate, pay an amount up to the rate of old age non-contributory pension in respect of subvention applicants whose means are assessed as less than the weekly rate of old age non-contributory pension. Funding of €10 million was distrib uted to health boards to ensure that everyone who receives a subvention is granted an amount to bring their income, following the application of Article 8.2, the disregard of one fifth of old age non-contributory pension rate, back up to the rate of old age non-contributory pension.

It is also worth noting that in 1997 when this Government came to office, the funding available for the scheme was £27 million. This year £72 million, €92 million, has been made available by my Department to health boards to meet the costs of nursing home subventions.