Vol. 540 No. 1
271 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide sufficient funds to health boards to enable them increase the allowance being paid to people providing the boarding out scheme for the elderly. [19836/01]
Under the boarding out scheme older people who cannot live in their own home or find accommodation with relatives can be boarded out by the health board in family homes. Boarding out differs from welfare, nursing or long-term provisions in that the accommodation is provided for a client of a health board by a private owner who has entered into an agreement with the health board to provide accommodation and allied services on an agreed basis.
Article 17.1 of the boarding out regulations provides for the payment by the health board of a payment not exceeding half the weekly rate of the old age non-contributory pension to the householder in respect of each person being boarded out. In addition, Article 17.2 stipulates that the person being boarded out shall pay a sum to the householder as may be agreed by the health board, the householder and the person being boarded out.
I accept that the present maximum contribution payable by a health board should be reviewed in the light of current costs. I am arranging for a number of options to be considered in this context.
