Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the subvention for people in private nursing homes will increase; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many nursing homes have already raised their prices following the pension increase. [7790/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations 1993 are administered by the Health Service Executive. Three rates of subvention are currently payable —€114.30, €152.40 and €190.50 — for the three levels of dependency which are medium, high and maximum. There are no plans to increase the subvention rates. 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.

The cost of care in a private nursing home is a private matter between the nursing home operators and the patient involved. The nursing home subvention scheme was introduced in 1993 to give some financial assistance towards the cost of private nursing home care. It was never intended that the scheme would subsidise the full costs of private nursing home care.