Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2013
520. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the impact the Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 will have on the lives and economic resources of persons with intellectual disabilities and specifically the impact on persons with intellectual disabilities in State residential care; the impact for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families who avail of life saving respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33272/13]
View answer528. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the consultations held, if any, or attempts to explain the impact of the proposed Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 legislation his Department has undertaken with the disability community, in particular those persons with intellectual disabilities directly affected in terms of their residential arrangements and personal economic resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33323/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 528 together.
I want to reassure people with disabilities in residential care that there is nothing in the new legislation which will involve moving people with disabilities in residential care to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or which aims to increase the amounts they now contribute towards accommodation and maintenance costs. In fact, the new legislation in this area is largely a set of technical changes which aim to continue existing contribution levels within an updated statutory framework.
It should be noted that this is a very technical piece of legislation and contains provisions that affect many parts of the health service. However it is important that people in residential settings know that:
- The Bill essentially continues existing arrangements for people in a range of residential settings who contribute towards the cost of their maintenance. The Bill is putting this arrangement into a modernised and simplified legal framework which is not designed to generate any additional revenue.
- These contributions will apply to all those provided with residential care by or on behalf of the HSE, other than those covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme and those in acute hospital care.
- A Fair Deal type arrangement is not planned for extension to the Disability or Mental Health Sectors at present, but is being considered within the context of the current review of the Fair Deal Scheme. There would be full consultation before any such move is contemplated.
- There will be a continuing requirement to pay an appropriate and affordable contribution, which will be in line with current long-stay charges, towards the maintenance and accommodation costs to the State of providing such services.
- The maximum level of the current long stay charge is just below 80% of the non-contributory State pension. The maximum contribution will remain at this level.
- The actual contribution will depend, as now, on the individual’s income level.
- The exemptions which currently apply to long-stay charges will continue to apply to residential support services maintenance and accommodation contributions.
- The HSE will continue to have discretion to reduce the level of contribution required to avoid undue financial hardship, depending on individuals’ circumstances, the extent to which they provide for their own maintenance and their assessed needs.
