Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the shortcomings of the fair deal scheme for farm families and for families with small businesses and their elderly folk. In particular, I refer to the fact that on top of the 80% from an elderly person's income, they are required to contribute towards the cost of their care in a nursing home. An amount of 7.5% of the value of an asset, whether it be land or a business, is also required to be contributed.

A problem arises in that farms may not necessarily be able to support such a charge on property. It is only on the basis of certain criteria that the three-year cap applies. A farmer or a young business person who has inherited land or a business from a parent could have an indefinite charge of 7.5% for as long as a parent, aunt or uncle survives. That can be untenable from a business point of view because the young farmer or the business person has to be able to live as well.

Another issue is the assessment of the financial contribution requires that land and any other assets which the retired elderly person receiving care had within the previous five years up to the date of the application must be included in that assessment. We have policy which encourages land mobility, especially to younger farmers, and in many cases where older farmers transfer land, they do not receive payment for it. The idea that the value of an asset of land a farmer transferred four years ago would be included and assessed as income seems a nonsense.There is a case to reduce the timeframe for the transfer of assets and income which are included in the financial assessment. The IFA suggests that this should be three years. There should also be a reduction in the 7.5% per annum charge against the farm or the business to reflect the ability of the farm or business to pay towards the older person's care in the nursing home. Other than that, it puts people in an untenable position. In the context of the upcoming budget, I would like the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to take up this issue with the Minister for Health because he is best placed and he understands the position of farm families and businesses. I would like the Leader to raise the shortcomings of the fair deal scheme.