Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, and wish her the best of luck with her portfolio. I compliment Senator Phil Prendergast on her contribution. It was a pleasure to listen to what she had to say.

The Bill is aimed at transforming the current system of residential nursing home care in Ireland to one that is accessible, affordable and anxiety-free. In line with recommendation 18 of my policy document, A New Approach to Ageing and Ageism, the Bill will provide much needed clarity regarding the State arrangements for financial support for all people who require long-term care in both public and private nursing homes.

The enactment of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill, or the fair deal legislation as it is also called, will give rise to significant changes. It is worth noting that a fundamental principle of the scheme is that no person currently in care will be disadvantaged in any way by these changes.

People face very different costs depending on whether they are in public or private nursing homes. Some private homes cost approximately €50,000 per year. Certain individuals do not receive support from the State. Many of those who do receive financial support from the State still cannot afford to pay the remainder of their costs. Consequently, people are sometimes obliged to sell or mortgage their homes to pay for their care and must often rely on contributions from their families or friends.

The nursing homes support scheme will benefit everyone because individuals will, based on their means, make contributions to their care costs and the State will then pay the balance. This will apply in respect of both public and private nursing homes. As a result, people, their spouses or dependent children will never be obliged to sell or mortgage their homes to pay for nursing home care. Family members will not have to provide cash from their own incomes to pay for care and the State will continue to pay the majority of overall care costs. The benefits of the scheme are that the State will fund the largest part of people's care costs, the basis for contributions will be equitable and will be based on the income and assets of the person who requires care, individual contributions will be affordable, people will not be obliged to sell or mortgage their homes to meet their contributions, and the deferred contribution from the principal private residence will be capped at a maximum of 15%.

This scheme is not just for those over the age of 65. The current subvention scheme does not make a distinction on age grounds, nor will the new arrangements. The service and the population for which the scheme will be provided is defined in legislation. The scheme covers long-term residential care only, not respite or day care, although these services may be provided in a particular nursing home.

The definition of a couple is a critical point and a landmark in the Oireachtas. Section 4(1) states:

In this Act, "couple" means—

(a) two persons married to each other,

(b) a man and woman who are not married to each other but are cohabiting as husband and wife, or

(c) two persons of the same sex who are cohabiting in domestic circumstances comparable to that of a man and woman who are not married to each other but are cohabiting as husband and wife,

who are habitually living together at the date of the making of an application for State support by either or both of them or at the date of the commencement of the provision of care services to either or both of them.

This is far-sighted and it is about time that couples devoted to each other but not married are entitled to the same legislative provisions as married couples.