James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The scheme has been running for four years. The Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009 provided for a person in nursing home care when the scheme commenced who applies for the scheme to have his or her State support backdated to 27 October 2009. There has to be a cut-off point. One can always argue that another 12 months should be allowed, and I accept from where the Deputy is coming, but there comes a point when a scheme has to be closed. This is the appropriate time to do so. The manner in which it has been administered to date has been more than fair.

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