Vol. 562 No. 5
284 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people receiving nursing home subventions; the number that have been assessed but are on a waiting list, as in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; the number of persons who have applied and are awaiting assessment; and if he will make a statement on the fact that people such as this have to go on a waiting list. [6611/03]
As the Deputy is aware, sections 22.3 and 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 allow health boards the discretion 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 each health board in the context of meeting the requirements of the subvention scheme within the board's revenue allocation as notified annually in the letters of determination. This is in keeping with the provisions of the Health (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 1996.
The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collated in my Department. My Department has therefore asked the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to provide the information, which will be forwarded to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
In relation to the specific case raised by the Deputy, responsibility for the provision of health services in Cavan rests with the North-Eastern Health Board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.
