Vol. 553 No. 5
271 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has given instructions to health boards in relation to arrears due to people, having regard to the report of the ombudsman into the nursing home subvention scheme; when this money will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/02]
272 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children when arrears due to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 9 will be paid by the South Western Area Health Board arising from the report of the ombudsman into the nursing home subvention scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 272 together.
As the Deputy is aware, it has been decided that moneys should be paid to those who were adversely affected by the provision in the nursing home subvention regulations which allowed for the assessment of the capacity of the adult sons and/or daughters of older people who applied for nursing home subvention to contribute towards the cost of their parent's nursing home care.
A group representing my 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. Instructions as to how the payments should be made were issued by my Department and funding was made available to commence the making of these payments from the 1 November 2001. Further funding was made available to continue the making of these payments in 2002.
In relation to the particular case raised by the Deputy, as this issue is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, my Department has asked the regional chief executive of the authority to examine the case and respond to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
