Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

471 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children when nursing home subventions were introduced; the maximum subventions for each category on introduction; if subventions have been increased since first introduced; if not, the reason; the average private nursing home rates at the time of subvention introduction and currently; if he will give a considerable increase in subventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17641/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt):

The payment of subvention is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, which came into effect on 1 September 1993 together with regulations made under the Act. It must be stressed that a nursing home subvention is aimed at providing assistance towards the cost of private nursing home fees and is not intended to meet the full cost of nursing home care.

There are three levels of subvention payable – £70, £95, £120 – in accordance with the three levels of dependency – medium, high, maximum – which are eligible for subvention. While the rates of subvention have not been increased since the introduction of the scheme substantial additional funding has had to be provided to meet the rising costs of the scheme. The additional expenditure is due to a number of factors such as the increase in the number of people in receipt of subventions, their higher levels of dependency, resulting in more people receiving the higher rates of subvention, and the change in the regulations whereby the ability of adult sons and-or daughters over 21 years of age to contribute is no longer taken into account. The amount made available for the scheme this year is £33 million. Any possible increase in the subvention rate next year will depend on the availability of resources and competing priorities at the time including the need for other improvements in services for older people.

The placement of a resident in a private nursing home and the fees charged is a private arrangement between the nursing home and the individual resident and information regarding rates of fees charged is not available in my Department.