Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 251: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the changes made to the nursing home subvention scheme; the breakdown of changes for people who have applied for subvention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6758/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 are administered by the Health Service Executive. There are currently three rates of subvention payable, that is, €114.30, €152.40 and €190.50, for the three levels of dependency which are medium, high and maximum.

The changes that were announced on budget day were incorporated into the Nursing Homes (Subvention) (Amendment) Regulations 2005. These regulations amended the thresholds contained in the 1993 regulations by increasing the value of assets to be disregarded for the purposes of subvention assessment from £6,000 or €7,618 to €11,000, increasing the asset threshold above which subvention may be refused from £20,000 or €25,394 to €36,000 and increasing the threshold of principal residence value above which subvention may be refused from £75,000 or €95,230 to €500,000 or more, where the residence is located in the Dublin area, or €300,000 or more, where the residence is located outside the Dublin area, provided that the applicant's income is greater than €9,000 — this was previously £5,000 or €6,349. These regulations were signed by the Tánaiste on 14 December 2005 and came into law effective from that date.

The HSE continues to retain the discretion to impute an income of 5% of the estimated market value of the principal residence of an applicant for subvention, unless the residence is occupied by a spouse or son or daughter aged less than 21 years or in full-time education or in receipt of the disabled person's maintenance allowance, blind person's pension, disability benefit, invalidity pension or old age non-contributory pension, and generally does so unless there are exceptional circumstances. However, the residence value above which it may automatically refuse to pay a subvention has been increased substantially, as outlined, to take account of increased property values.

The Department has discussed the regulations with the HSE, both during their preparation and since their coming into law, and it falls to the HSE to implement the regulations in the various HSE regions.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 252: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria for assessing an application for enhanced nursing home subvention in each area of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6759/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

The nursing home subvention scheme was introduced in 1993 on foot of the Nursing Homes (Subvention) Regulations 1993 which were made under section 7 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990. These regulations laid down the criteria for assessing a person's eligibility for subvention, as well as the maximum amounts of subvention that may be paid to an eligible person. The Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 are administered by the Health Service Executive. There are currently three rates of subvention payable, that is, €114.30, €152.40 and €190.50, for the three levels of dependency which are medium, high and maximum.

The HSE has discretion to pay more than the maximum rate of subvention relative to an individual's level of dependency in a case, for example, where personal funds are exhausted. The application of these provisions in an individual case is a matter for the HSE in the context of meeting increasing demands for subvention, subject to the provisions of the Health Act 2004. The average rate of subvention paid by the HSE generally exceeds the current approved basic rates.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 253: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the various levels of enhanced nursing home subvention in each area of the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6760/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. I have outlined details of subvention and, in particular, the criteria for assessing an application for enhanced subvention in a separate reply to another question from the Deputy.