Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
541. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the detailed financial support provided to the private nursing home sector to deal with Covid-19; the amount of payments that have been paid in support of this during April and May 2020 to date; the expected payments for June, July and August 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8454/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme which will provide funding of up to €72.5m to private and voluntary nursing homes opened for applications on 17 April. The core concept of the scheme is that the State will provide additional funding to those nursing homes that require it, to contribute towards support measures associated with COVID-19 preparedness, mitigation and outbreak management. This temporary scheme will provide support for a 3-month period - April, May and June 2020.
There are two component parts of the Scheme which are integrated:
- a support payment per month based on the number of residents; and
- enhanced assistance in the event of a nursing home actively managing an outbreak.
Under the standard support component, funding may be provided to each applicant nursing home for COVID-19 related measures and associated expected costs for the month. The maximum level of financial support under the Scheme will be calculated by reference to the number of residents in the nursing home at a specified time.
Where a nursing home has incurred significant further costs or undertaken necessary enhanced actions arising directly from a COVIDCOVID-19 outbreak, a nursing home may submit a separate business case for enhanced assistance.
There is an overall monthly funding cap, which is the maximum amount that may be paid in respect of each month to a Nursing Home under the Scheme. This amount applies to the aggregate of payments under the Standard Assistance Payment and the Outbreak Assistance Payment. It is equal to the lower of:
- twice the Standard Assistance Payment Cap for the month;
- the amount of €75,000;
I have forwarded the payment aspects of the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
