Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Tá a fhios agam. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo a phlé ar Athló on Tí. It gives me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position on the nursing home subvention scheme. I fear the Deputy has heard these ominous word before. The Deputy is aware of the principles of the subvention, the criteria applied and the fact that there are different rates depending on whether the applicant is of medium, high or maximum dependency. The scheme was introduced to assist with the cost of private nursing home charges and was never intended to cover the entire cost of nursing home care. Under Article 22.3 of the nursing homes subvention regulations 1993, the HSE may enter into an arrangement with a registered private nursing home to provide inpatient services under section 52 of the Health Act 1970. In making such an arrangement the HSE may pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency, for example in cases where personal funds are exhausted, in accordance with Article 22.4 of the Nursing Home (Subvention) (Amendment) Regulations 1996.

In the context of the matter the Deputy has raised on the Adjournment this evening the following Delphic sentence is what I can convey to her: the application of these provisions is a matter for the HSE in the context of meeting increasing demands for subventions.

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