Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many people are fearful of the fair deal scheme and its legal complexities. I do not think that it is easily understood and there is no incentive to sell earlier.

I referred to the financial product that is often called life loans. They are sold by banks which provide a lump sum but there is no capital or interest repayment during a person's lifetime. It is a punitive product which often results in very significant repayments. I have seen the HSE view that differently for different people in the fair deal scheme, where in some cases it has been taken into account for the calculation of the 15% and not in others. I believe it is equivalent to a mortgage and should be taken into account.