Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will bring forward legislation on her proposed changes to the nursing home subvention scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3476/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The start date for the new nursing home support scheme — A Fair Deal — is 1 January, 2008. This is because primary legislation must be passed in order for the scheme to commence. The Department is currently working on preparing the Heads of the Bill.

Some of the benefits and key commitments to individuals as part of A Fair Deal will be: Nursing home care will now be affordable to every person and fair to all; for those currently in private care, their costs will be reduced significantly; individuals will be asked to make a contribution towards the cost of care, limited by the cost of care; the basis for contributions will be fair, based on each person's means and assets; contributions during a person's lifetime will be less than their disposable income; care recipients will not have to sell or mortgage their house to meet the contribution; a spouse or dependent child will not have to sell or mortgage the house to meet the contribution; and the deferred contribution from the principal private residence will be capped at a maximum of 15%. I would also like to inform the Deputy that under the new scheme the State will continue to fund the largest part of care costs overall.