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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Deirdre Clune

Ceist:

186 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to increase the nursing home subvention in light of the many increases in charges for these homes around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16447/00]

Under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, the health boards provide subventions to assist persons in meeting the costs of nursing home care. It was not intended that subventions would meet the full costs involved.

There are three rates of subvention payable, £70, £95 and £120, in accordance with three levels of dependency, medium, high and maximum. The amount of funding allocated to supporting older people in private nursing homes has been significantly increased by the Government in recent years. For example, more than £5 million in additional funding has been allocated this year to provide for an increase in the number of people in receipt of subventions, their higher levels of dependency, resulting in more people receiving the higher rates of subventions, 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 £38.4 million.

The Government's priority this year is to ensure health boards have adequate resources to meet increasing demands on the scheme. I am keeping under review the scope for effecting further improvements to the terms of the scheme. The question of increasing the rates of subvention will be kept under review in light of the availability of funding and competing priorities.

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