Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1217. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if the temporary inflation payment scheme will be extended past December 2022 given that fuel costs are expected to remain at heightened levels in the coming months and given that nursing homes are bound by HIQA regulations relating to temperature and adequate lighting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63461/22]
View answerThe Government remains conscious of the financial challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector, particularly in terms of inflationary cost increases. A €10m scheme (the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme or TIPS) has been established that will cover 75% of year-on-year energy and heating cost increases in private and voluntary nursing homes up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per month per nursing home over the period of July to December 2022. This means that eligible nursing homes can claim up to €31,500 to help meet increasing energy costs.
Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) which will provide for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.
Since the start of the pandemic, private and voluntary nursing homes have also received a wide range of non-financial supports, including over €72m in free PPE and oxygen, as well as over €145m of financial support through the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS). The TAPS Covid-19 Outbreak Assistance has been extended to the end of the year.
Minister Butler is currently in discussions with Departmental officials to examine ways in which funding can also continue to be used to provide support, where necessary and appropriate, to those nursing homes who are not scheduled to renegotiate their Deeds of Agreement this year. This includes an expected extension of the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme into 2023.
