Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The subvention scheme is provided for under the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993, as amended. When carrying out a financial assessment for the purpose of subvention, 5% of the imputed value of the person's principal private residence is taken into account. There are exceptions, for example, where the house is occupied by a spouse, a child under the age of 21 or a person in receipt of certain social welfare payments.

The Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill of 2006 is designed simply to put the current subvention scheme on a sound legal footing. It proposes no changes to the financial assessment process that currently operates. The position is that the HSE may make that assessment, which is the way it has been over the years. The Bill provides that the HSE, with discretion, can refuse to pay a subvention if the value of the applicant's assets exceeds a certain threshold or if the value of his or her principal residence exceeds €500,000 in, or €300,000 outside, Dublin. The limits were raised substantially, from €95,000 to €500,000, this year. This does not represent any change from the current practice.

The Government agreed on a number of principles contained in the report of the interdepartmental group on long-term care, which are reflected in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. Advanced discussions are being held to draw up proposals for a new policy on long-term care. I saw the newspaper article and the cases made, but this legislation aims to put on a sound legal footing what has been happening in practice for the past number of years.

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