Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The marginal rate is available for the course of 2009. The thinking behind what is to happen in 2010 and beyond relates to the review that will take place upon the fair deal scheme coming into play. As the Deputy knows, there are currently families who must pay considerable sums of money and consequently obtain the tax relief. The idea of the fair deal scheme is to treat everyone the same, be they in beds in private nursing homes or public nursing homes. No one in any circumstances under the new fair deal regime will pay more than 80% of his or her income as part of the funding mechanism. The provision should be reviewed in the context of the fact that the fair deal regime with ensure equality of treatment and that comprehensive, uniform criteria will apply to nursing home provision to deal with historic issues.

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