Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
314. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the additional funding for the fair deal scheme; if this funding will assist in the progression and expansion of the scheme; if consideration is being given to additional or complimentary schemes for non-residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51800/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraChanges to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 will be implemented from 20 October 2021. The primary amendment to the Scheme (more commonly known as the Fair Deal Scheme) will mean that after a period of three years, when calculating the cost of a person’s nursing home care, the value of family-owned farms and businesses will no longer be taken into account. This will happen where a family successor commits to working the farm or business for a period of six years from the date of their appointment.
The Act also extends the 3-year cap on financial assessment of the value of a principal residence to the proceeds from selling that home while in Fair Deal. Once the changes provided for come into operation, a Fair Deal participant will not experience an increase in their contributions to care after three years due to having sold their family home. This is in line with the core principles of the scheme, and will remove a disincentive to the sale of properties that might otherwise remain vacant.
Over €1.049 billion has been allocated for Long Term Residential Care in Budget 2022; an increase on 2021 levels of funding. A further €30m has been provided for in Budget 2022 for new developments which includes additional funding to operationalise the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021. The details of this initiative will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.
The Government is also committed to establishing a new statutory scheme on the financing and regulation of home support. This scheme is a key enabler to providing more alternatives to nursing home care and wider opportunities for people to live fuller, more independent lives. The scheme will provide for the financing and regulation of home-support services in order to provide equitable access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care needs.
