Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

When the subvention scheme was introduced in 1993, the family home was assessed as part of the means test and this provision has remained part of the scheme since. While the scheme is not without its faults, we put forward a new plan for the funding of long-term care last December but that involves separate legislation and the Deputies could be in office next September. We are proposing that there will be an imputed income equal to 5% of the value of the home but the maximum period for which this can be calculated is three years. If somebody is in receipt of subvention for four years, for example, only three years can be assessed under the means test.

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