Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the criteria for assessing the contributions of an elderly patient in residential nursing home care who owns their own home and has some money in the bank; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8753/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993 provide for the payment of subvention for private nursing home care for applicants who qualify on both medical and means grounds. General rules for the assessment of means in respect of an application for nursing home subvention are set out in the Second Schedule of the Nursing Homes Regulations 1993 and as amended by the 2005 regulations.

Under the regulations the Health Service Executive, when considering an application for subvention, carries out a means test which takes into account the means of the applicant and his or her spouse or cohabiting partner, where appropriate, and the assets of the applicant. The means test is carried out by the Health Service Executive and involves looking at the applicant's income for the previous 12 months. Income from all sources is taken into account and is assessed net of PRSI, income tax and the health contribution and the income of a married or cohabiting person is taken to be half the total income of the couple. In assessing an applicant's assets the first €11,000 of such assets is disregarded. The HSE may refuse to pay a subvention if an applicant has assets exceeding €36,000, excluding their principal residence.

On the principal private residence of an applicant, the HSE imputes 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 a social welfare pension or allowance as set out in the 2005 regulations.

The HSE may refuse to pay a subvention if the value of the applicant's principal residence is in excess of €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, and the residence is not occupied by a spouse, a son or daughter aged less than 21 years or in full time education, or a relative in receipt of a social welfare pension or allowance as set out in the 2005 regulations.