Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Nursing Home Subventions.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

1129 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 26 June 2002, the reason applicants for subvention under article 82 were treated differently by the Western Health Board regarding arrears due, based on the pension for which they were in receipt, when non-contributory pensioners were not in receipt of the maximum subvention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16615/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Article 8.2 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, 1993, allows health boards disregard a sum equivalent to one fifth of the old age non-contributory pension when assessing means and calculating the amount of subvention to be paid.

Article 10.3 provides that a person whose sole means as assessed by the health board is a sum equivalent to or lower than the weekly rate payable at the time of the old age non-contributory pension shall qualify for the maximum amount of subvention per week. Based on this regulation, the level of subvention granted to an applicant whose only income is the OANCP would not be affected by the application of Article 8.2. Therefore, as there was no reduction in subvention due, there are no arrears due. Thus, OANCP recipients are not treated differently than applicants in receipt of other pensions.