Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
88 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has provided for changes in the terms of the nursing home subvention in the 2005 Estimates; the provisions which will apply in 2005 in respect of the rates of subvention, the means thresholds for eligibility, the treatment of savings and of the family home, and the terms of access to and payment of enhanced subvention. [30639/04]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that a working group has been set up by my Department to review the nursing home subvention regulations. The group comprises all stakeholders and was established to review the operation and administration of the nursing home subvention scheme following the publication of the O'Shea report. The purpose of the 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, provide both a home and nursing home subvention depending on need, be consistent in implementation throughout the country and draw on experience of the operation of the old scheme.
Changes to the nursing home subvention scheme, including rates of subvention, means assessment and treatment of assets, will be looked at by the group. It is not envisaged that changes will occur before the work of the group has been completed.
