Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Because of the scheme of assessment nobody is being approved for the nursing homes support scheme who does not have needs consistent with the scheme. However, there are people who have needs consistent with the scheme whose preference may well be to stay at home and who would stay at home if they had the same level of psychological assurance that all the supports they need would be provided at home to the same extent they can have it with the nursing homes support scheme. As part of the review the Department is undertaking, which has been discussed, we have a view, which we said to the Committee on the Future of Healthcare, that we need a scheme similar to the fair deal scheme for home care.