Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The amendment of the primary section, section 53A of the 1970 Act, allows for persons residing in nursing homes to be charged the costs which are based on the average costs of long-term residential care in a public nursing home. As the Minister knows, there is significant variation in the care provided in public nursing homes depending on the type of patient and level of dependency. Why has the Minister decided to go for an average rather than the actual cost of operating a nursing home? The calculation is already factored into the treatment purchase fund figures.

I wish to flag section 19. There seems to be an anomaly in regard to the charging structure which is being proposed. It is based on the State non-contributory pension. People who will be charged under that will receive €188 a week, which is significantly less than the State contributory pension. People could contribute the vast majority of their social welfare payments for those services.

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