Dáil debates

Tuesday, 16 April 2019

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

3:45 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the fair deal scheme and ask a very basic question. Have the funds for the scheme been frozen? I have before me a response from the HSE in respect of a person on behalf of whom Fianna Fáil wrote a letter. The response states that State support has been approved in this case subject to the availability of funding at the time of the placement in an approved nursing home. It confirms that the application has been completed and the applicant placed on the national placement list for funding under the scheme. It asks the applicant to please note that there is currently a waiting time of three to four weeks for funding and that the office will write again to confirm when funding is available. It further states that where financial support has been approved, such support will be payable in respect of admissions to approved applicants, etc. That response to this individual is dated 6 March. We are looking at a six-week delay in a situation where the person has been approved for funding under the fair deal scheme but the funding has not been made available.

There is wider public concern about the scheme. The indication is that the allocation may have been used up. Can the Taoiseach allay such concerns? When will the legislation pertaining to the reform of the fair deal scheme be announced?

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