Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 3

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

228 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Southern Health Board will use the same criteria for assessing applicants for nursing home subvention as other health boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6514/02]

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

The Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, are administered by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. There are currently three maximum rates of subvention payable –€114.28, €152.39 and €190.46 – in accordance with three levels of dependency – medium, high, maximum – which are eligible for subvention.

The Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, were introduced under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990. The first schedule to the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, sets out the general rules to be followed by all health boards in assessing the level of dependency of an applicant for a nursing home subvention. The second schedule to the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, sets out the general rules to be followed by health boards in assessing the means of an applicant for a nursing home subvention. For the purposes of these regulations, "means" 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. I am confident that all health boards, including the Southern Health Board, are assessing appli cations for subvention in accordance with these regulations.

As the Deputy will be aware, in line with a Government decision, an expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme was undertaken by my Department in association with the Department of Finance. It is the intention to bring forward proposals 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, including the changes outlined in the recently published national health strategy.