Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, and wish her well with this document and her work with the aged. I have the greatest respect for people who take care of the elderly, especially the nurses, doctors and other staff who work in nursing homes. I have visited some nursing homes and they can be quite depressing places. There must be a better way, in some cases, of looking after the aged.

In the majority of nursing homes the elderly are getting the best care possible. However, at some stage we should devise a system whereby people can be given aid to return to their homes, either by way of a grant or assistance. With the fair deal system for the nursing homes, this could apply in some cases to private houses through, for example, the provision of an extension or paying somebody at home some form of assistance for looking after the person.

I have a number of questions on matters in the Minister of State's presentation. With regard to the calculation of the level of State support, is everybody entitled to get some level of support regardless of their means? Will any type of waiver scheme come into play with regard to the means test? What is the situation for a person who is on the threshold? Is there a buffer system or is one cut off straight away when one reaches the threshold? Is there room for manoeuvre in the calculations that will be made in the means test?

The Minister of State spoke about step three, which is the contribution to care. Does this apply to people who are in private nursing homes at present or will it only apply to new entrants to nursing homes? There are some doubts that it applies to people who are already in nursing homes, which the Minister might clarify. She said a charging order will be registered against the property, enabling the money to be recouped from the person's estate when it is settled. This is known as ancillary State support. Will an interest rate apply? The person could be in a nursing home for a considerable period but no more than 15% of the value of the private home can be taken. A loan will have to be provided but will an interest rate apply to it or will the 15% of the property be the only thing taken into account?

Obviously the other assets will be taken into account but no more than 15% of the value of the private dwelling house can be taken. Some people will have other assets so a loan might have to be arranged to take a portion of those as well. Will there be an interest rate across the board? Perhaps the Minister of State would clarify this important issue.

When will valuations be carried out? Obviously a valuation will be made at the beginning when the person first goes into the nursing home. However, if the person is in the nursing home for ten or 15 years, is a valuation of the property or house made every year? A house that might have been worth €1 million 12 months ago might only be worth half that amount today. On which valuation does one base the calculation? The person could be in the nursing home for many years. Is a valuation carried out every year or is it carried out when the person goes into the nursing home, with another being carried out when the person passes away or returns to the private residence? These matters should be clarified.

The different people who will assess the applicants will form different opinions. We have seen this happen too often with planning permission applications. I believe a range of different views will be taken in the different health areas.

Another matter the Minister of State might clarify relates to the care representative and how somebody can go to the Circuit Court to become a care representative. The Minister described the different people who can become a care representative. They can be a parent, brother, sister or relative. What about a neighbour? I have seen many cases where neighbours have done much more for older people than their relatives. I do not see any mechanism whereby a neighbour can become a care representative. If that option can be included, it should be because very often neighbours do more for older people than family members.