Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of money made available to the Health Service Executive in 2004 and 2005 and proposed for 2006 in respect of nursing home subvention; her views on whether these amounts are entirely inadequate in the context of the demand and the requirements of so many having to avail of private nursing home care; and her proposals in this regard. [37445/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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From 2005 the allocation of money between programmes is a matter for the HSE. It is the Department's policy to maintain older people in dignity and independence at home and in accordance with their wishes, and at the same time to provide a high quality of residential care for older people when they can no longer be maintained at home.

The nursing home subvention scheme was introduced in 1993 to assist people with the financial cost of a private nursing home bed. It was never intended to cover the full cost of nursing home care. Since 1993, there have been significant levels of investment in the nursing home subvention scheme. On the introduction of the scheme in 1993, €5 million was allocated. The amount allocated to the scheme in 2004 and 2005 was €143 million and €140 million, respectively. The final figures for 2005 will obviously not be ready for some time but it may be noted that based on the latest available information, June 2005 as against June 2004, there has been a significant increase of 18% for those persons in receipt of an enhanced subvention. The allocation for 2006 is not finalised as yet but it is very likely that the 2006 figure will show an increase over 2004 and 2005.

Numerous studies have highlighted the fact that older people would prefer to remain living at home rather than going into long-stay care. The Government is committed to developing both the provision and standard of residential care for older people and also the various community and home support schemes.