Written answers

Wednesday, 24 May 2006

Department of Health and Children

Nursing Home Subventions

9:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals to streamline and make more patient-friendly the procedures surrounding private nursing home subventions and enhanced subventions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20035/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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, i.e. €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 at present. Additional funding of €20 million was provided for the administration of the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme in 2006, bringing the total available budget to €161 million. The €20 million is to support more basic nursing home subventions and reduce waiting lists for enhanced subventions: it is also to bring more consistency to subventions support throughout the country. The recently published Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill 2006 is designed to ensure that the existing subvention scheme for private nursing home care is grounded in primary legislation and to help the HSE to implement the scheme on a standardised basis across the country. The Report of the Long-Term Care Working Group discussed issues relating to the future policy direction of long term care for older people and it is presently being considered by the Government. Any future scheme relating to long term care should be as straightforward as possible and avoid unnecessary complexities.

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