I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.
The total budget for long-term residential care in 2012 is €994.7m. This is effectively the budget for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme albeit that transitional arrangements must also be facilitated from within the subhead, i.e. people in contract beds, people who choose to remain on subvention and people who were in public nursing homes prior to the commencement of the scheme. Additional funding of €55 million was originally allocated to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme for 2012. However, the Minister for Health subsequently decided to transfer €13 million of the €55 million for a pilot scheme of increased and targeted community care interventions in 2012. The Special Delivery Unit is working with the HSE to develop and implement this pilot scheme.
The decision in relation to the transfer of funding was taken following analysis of a report into the care needs assessment process (CSAR process) which determines whether a person requires long-term residential care. The report was based on an audit of 1,200 persons in long-term residential care. It found, among other things, that while in 93% of the cases long-term residential care was recommended,in 40% of the cases the individuals were not considered for interventions such as Home Care Packages. In a further 40% of the cases it is not clear if they were considered for such packages.
The HSE's National Service Plan 2012 estimated that a net additional 1,270 people would be supported under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme by end-2012. However, the €13m transfer outlined above occurred after the Plan was published. The HSE now estimates that it will support a net additional 640 people by end-2012. However, it should be noted that the pilot scheme of increased and targeted community care interventions being developed by the Special Delivery Unit should reduce the number of people applying for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme by ensuring that as many people as possible are empowered to remain in their homes for as long as possible in line with their wishes and Government policy.