Vol. 561 No. 6
103 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a nursing home subvention has been turned down for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the reason this person's residence is being assessed despite the regulations which state that the principal residence is not assessed where the medical assessment of the applicant deems that the applicant suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's disease. [5048/03]
The Second Schedule of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993 sets out the general rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for a nursing home subvention. Means for the purposes of these regulations are the income and the imputed value of assets of a person in respect of whom a subvention is being sought and the income and imputed income of his or her spouse. Paragraph 2 of the Second Schedule provides that, in calculating the means of an applicant, a health board shall take all sources of income into account, including rental income. Means are assessed for this scheme to ensure that the available funding is directed at older people who have the greatest need of financial assistance.
The residence of the person seeking a subvention is treated as a special asset. It is not taken into account in certain circumstances. For example, if it is occupied by the spouse of the person seeking a subvention or by a son or daughter less then 21 years of age or in full-time education or by a relative in receipt of the old age non-contributory pension or a disability allowance type payment.
