Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their contributions, some of which I thought were unfair. We are losing sight of what I am trying to achieve. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act was introduced in 2009. It was quickly acknowledged that there was an anomaly as to how farm families and small businesses were being treated. The three-year cap applied to everybody else with a principal private residence but somebody who had a farm or small business did not get the same treatment. We must be clear that I am trying to fix that anomaly but, as Deputy Naughten said, this is a complicated Bill.

I am glad that Deputy Cullinane raised the issue he did. I will clarify that matter. Alongside the already completed new provision, I also intend to insert a regulation-making power into the Bill which will allow me, by regulations, to provide the remaining second partner provisions in advance of the Bill being commenced. Every regulation made under this new power must be laid by the Minister before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made. If a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation can be annulled accordingly.

A safeguard is, therefore, in place. It will be laid before each House for 21 days and if Members are not happy with it, they can deal with it accordingly.

Deputy Naughten almost confused me when he spoke about couples. The financial assessment within the nursing home support scheme is always joint when there is a partner. It has not changed since 2009 and it is certainly not changing today. The rates charged reflect that. On the assessment of income, 80% for a single person becomes 40% for a couple and 7.5% on assessment becomes 3.75% in respect of a couple. If a couple from a farming family or business are in a nursing home at the same time, they will be charged as a couple rather than as two individuals. In addition, one family successor can be appointed. Is the time concluded?

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