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Nursing Home Subventions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2019

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Questions (594)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

594. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter on the accumulation of funds in the bank account of a person (details supplied) will be investigated. [50281/19]

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Written answers

The Deputy is referring, in part, to the Nursing Home Support Scheme administered by the Department of Health. Queries in that regard should be directed to the Department of Health.

My Department is currently finalising the state pension (non-contributory) claim of the deceased.

Social welfare legislation provides that the personal representative of a deceased person, who at any time received a social assistance scheme payment, is obliged to give notice to my Department of their intention to distribute the deceased's estate and to provide a schedule of the assets of the estate. The personal representative is requested not to distribute the assets of the estate until they receive formal clearance from my Department. If, on examination of the schedule of assets, it is found that not all of the deceased’s means had been disclosed, or if the values of previously assessed means had changed, my Department will seek to recover any monies overpaid from the estate.

A schedule of the assets of their estate of the deceased was submitted to my Department in October 2019. I am advised that an official from my Department has written to the legal representatives of the estate requesting additional information. When this information is received, the Inspector dealing with this case will submit their report to a Deciding Officer for consideration. The outcome of the Deciding Officer's review will be notified to the personal representative of the deceased in due course.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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