Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 38 proposes to remove the right of the Minister to specify the periodic basis on which ancillary State support will be paid. This right is necessary, however, from a practical administrative perspective. The legislation provides for the weekly means of an applicant to be assessed and a weekly contribution to be calculated. While a person will make his or her contribution on a weekly basis in practice the State will provide financial support by transferring funds in block payments to the nursing home on a monthly basis. This is consistent with current practice under the subvention scheme whereby a weekly maximum basic subvention of €300 is payable under law but is paid to nursing homes on behalf of their residents on a monthly basis. It is therefore not proposed to accept this amendment.

I accept, however, the Deputy's point in this regard that the periodic basis for payment of ancillary State support is open-ended and unqualified. In order to address this concern I propose to move amendment No. 39 in place of amendment No. 38. Amendment No. 39 stipulates that the periodic basis for ancillary support shall not exceed two months. This approach acknowledges the administrative reality that the State will provide financial support by transferring funds in block payments to nursing homes on a monthly or at most bi-monthly basis. By enabling the Minister for Health and Children to specify the exact time period in writing the primary legislation retains flexibility. This will ensure that it remains responsive to evolving situations in growing social or economic sectors. I ask Deputies to support this amendment.

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