Vol. 575 No. 1
157 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has made provision in the 2004 Estimates to increase the maximum subvention levels under the nursing home subvention or in the rate of enhanced subvention or in the threshold for disregarding savings or in the income disregard; and the values for each of these items which will prevail in 2004. [27948/03]
As the Deputy may be aware, an expenditure review of the nursing home subvention scheme, prepared by Professor Eamon O'Shea, was launched in June 2003. The Mercer report on the future financing of long-term care in Ireland, commissioned by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, was launched at the same time. It was agreed to review the scheme with a view to establishing its relevance and efficacy in providing for older peoples' needs. The objective of the Department's review is to develop a scheme which will be transparent, offer a high standard of care for clients, provide equity within the system to include standardised dependency and means testing, be less discretionary, be consistent in implementation throughout the country and draw on the experience of the operation of the existing scheme.
I will be guided by the recommendations of the review group when deciding to make any changes to the current scheme. The strategy adopted for the future of the scheme and proposed alternatives such as home-based subvention and personal care packages will be informed by the results of the review process. The inaugural meeting of the review group, which includes representatives of all stakeholders, will take place in early December. Pending the receipt of the recommendations of the review group, I do not propose to introduce any major revisions to the existing scheme.
