Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
774 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the current average waiting time for applicants for nursing home subvention and the current average waiting time for applicants for enhanced nursing home subvention in the Southern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21516/04]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the administration of the nursing home subvention scheme is a matter for the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The board has advised my Department that it does not operate a waiting list for nursing home subvention. Nursing home subvention is paid to those who qualify on both financial and medical grounds and is paid from the date of application provided an application form has been submitted to the board and the applicant is resident in the nursing home.
The board has further advised my Department that the average waiting time for enhanced nursing home subvention is now five months, compared to an average waiting time of 20 months in 2003.
