Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Part 2 of the Bill provides for four amendments to the nursing home support scheme. In brief, these relate to outsourcing the HSE's functions under the scheme, abolishing the requirement to backdate State support to the commencement of the scheme for those who were in nursing home care prior to the scheme commencing, and increasing the asset contribution under the scheme from 5% to 7.5%, as mentioned by Senator Ó Clochartaigh. The programme for Government makes a commitment that a Government-wide review will be carried out to identify and eliminate non-priority programmes and outsource, where appropriate, non-critical functions. The proposed outsourcing provision will enable the HSE to outsource its functions under the scheme but does not oblige the HSE to outsource anything. However, should it be deemed appropriate or desirable in the future to outsource any elements of the scheme, this provision would facilitate that process.

This provision would facilitate that process. As stated, there are no specific functions under consideration for outsourcing at this time.

With regard to the abolition of the backdating provision, this was originally inserted in anticipation of a large volume of applications in the initial months of the scheme. It ensured that if any backlogs occurred at that time applicants would not be disadvantaged. Only those who were in private nursing homes when the scheme commenced can have their State support backdated. This group has had almost 4 years to apply, which is more than reasonable. This amendment would not prevent anyone who has been in long-term nursing home care since before October 2009 from applying for the scheme.

It was announced in budget 2013 that the asset contribution under the scheme would be increased from 5% to 7.5%. Put simply, the funding available for services for older people is not increasing at the same rate as the population. The budget for the nursing home support scheme this year is €974 million. The State has limited resources. However, the demands being made of these resources continue to increase. The increase to the asset contribution is necessary to support the sustainability of the scheme. The increase will only apply to new entrants to the scheme after the enactment of the Bill. Anybody who is already in receipt of financial support under the scheme will not be affected by the amendment.

The scheme contains several safeguards which ensure that the person in the nursing home and his or her spouse or partner, if applicable, are adequately provided for. They are unaffected by the provisions of the Bill. For those reasons, I cannot accept the amendment.