Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
216. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants waiting for assessment for the fair deal scheme; the average waiting time between assessment and funding approval by geographical breakdown; the average amount paid by participants between assessment and funding; if such amounts are reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27773/14]
View answerAt end April 2014, there were 1,517 applications for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme in progress.
The HSE operates a national placement list to enable it to operate within the budget for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. All applicants who are approved for funding are put on the placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application. Funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. As such, the average waiting time between assessment and approval is a national figure. As of the 19th June, there were 1,390 people on the national placement list. Currently the wait time for persons receiving funding approval is 10 weeks.
The provision of nursing home services is the subject of a contract between the approved nursing home and the person in receipt of those services, or his/her representative. The HSE is not party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home. Therefore, it is not possible to provide figures in relation to the amounts payable by nursing home residents before funding is released. The HSE does not reimburse any monies paid by nursing home residents for their cost of care while on the national placement list.
