Vol. 503 No. 3
420 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department assesses income paid to a nursing home when conducting means assessment for non-contributory old age pension; if he will make arrangements to modify this rule in order that the dependent spouse of persons in nursing homes can get some income to support themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9731/99]
There are a number of specific schemes of assistance which are designed to meet accommodation costs, such as nursing home charges. For instance, a nursing home subvention is available from the health boards towards meeting the costs of nursing home care. In addition, most nursing homes are approved by the Revenue Commissioners for the purposes of obtaining tax relief on fees paid. In the circumstances, it is not considered necessary to provide additional assistance towards nursing home charges by way of disregarding those charges under the means-tested old age non-contributory pension scheme.
However, if, as a consequence of the operation of the provisions of the nursing home subvention scheme, the spouse of the person who goes into nursing home care is left with no income or insufficient income to meet their day-to-day living expenses, then this would be a matter which should more properly be addressed, in the first instance, by the Department of Health and Children and the health boards.
If the Deputy knows of any particular case where the provisions of the nursing home subvention scheme are operating in such a way, perhaps he could forward details to me I will have the matter fully examined.
