Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2010
114 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if patients who have established rights to beds in public long stay nursing homes are subvented beds in private nursing homes, can apply to move to other nursing homes and retain their right to remain on this more favourable payment system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12082/10]
View answerPeople who were resident in public nursing homes prior to the introduction of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme are not required to pay charges under section 33 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This safeguard applies even if the person moves to another public nursing home. Similarly, subvented residents in private nursing homes may retain their subvention payment and do not have to apply for the new scheme if they do not wish to do so. Should they wish to move to another private nursing home, they may apply to have their subvention payment transferred in accordance with the relevant subvention legislation (i.e. Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007) and the HSE subvention guidelines.
