Michael Ring
Question:540 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person who returns home in their mature years after years of working abroad will be entitled to apply and receive nursing home subvention. [11420/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
Questions (482)
Written answers
Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility — category 1, that is, medical card holders — or limited eligibility — category 2 — for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as "ordinarily resident" in Ireland if he/she satisfies the health board that it is his/her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.
If the person in question applies to the health board and the board assesses him/her as requiring full-time care, then the board may offer the person a place in a health board facility. Alternatively, the person may apply to the board for a nursing home subvention. Such an application will be processed in the normal manner by the health board, including a means and a dependency assessment of the applicant.