Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The value of the household under the regulations was €95,000 up to last December. The limit has been increased from €95,000 to €300,000 outside, and €500,000 inside, Dublin, which is a substantial increase. Deputy Kenny asked if the HSE has discretion in this area. The answer is that the HSE may, in either case, use discretion. If there is somebody living in the residence, for example, a spouse or child, the HSE has discretion. The Deputy is correct in that I said the HSE has the discretion to refuse to pay a subvention, but it can work either way.

The Bill is simply putting the current subvention scheme on a sound legal footing. It proposes no changes to the financial assessment process currently in operation. We had many discussions on this issue during the social partnership negotiations late last year and earlier this year. Advanced discussions are being held to help draw up proposals for a new policy on long-term care, based on the principles endorsed by the Government and the social partners. These include appropriate and equitable levels of co-payments by care recipients based on a national standardised financial assessment. The aim is to achieve an equitable, balanced scheme, for residential and community care and for public and private provision.

That ongoing work was commenced under social partnership talks and we must now take it forward. We have been examining a number of models, suggestions and analyses of how this can best be done. That work is not yet complete, but it is our intention to bring forward proposals for a new policy for long-term care.

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