Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 4

Written Answers - Nursing Home Subventions.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

187 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the lack of consistency in the payment of nursing home subvention between the Southern Health Board area and the Mid-Western Health Board; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Southern Health Board area pays the maximum amount to meet the nursing home charge as opposed to the maximum recommended subvention of £150 in the case of the Mid-Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12865/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

There are currently three maximum rates of subvention payable – £90, £120, £150 – in accordance with three levels of dependency – medium, high, maximum – which are eligible for subvention.

A health board may pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency, for example in cases where personal funds are exhausted. Sections 22.3 and 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, permit health boards to contract beds in private nursing homes and to pay more than the maximum rates of subvention in such cases. However, the application of these provisions is a matter for the individual health board concerned in the context of meeting increasing demands for subventions within available resources.