Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to increase any of the thresholds for 2008 in respect of the nursing home subvention 2007 which can continue to apply to persons who are resident in nursing homes before 1 January 2008; and the thresholds which will apply in 2008 (details supplied). [31806/07]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans to change the rate of subvention, or any of the thresholds referred to by the Deputy, for 2008. The subvention scheme is being replaced by the improved nursing home support scheme, A Fair Deal. The existing subvention scheme will be phased out over time. In addition, not all of the thresholds and disregards to which the Deputy refers preclude an individual from receiving a subvention. While the legislation provides that the Health Service Executive may refuse a subvention in certain cases, the HSE Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Subvention Scheme state that all such applications should be processed in full with subvention only being denied on the basis of excess means as determined in accordance with the financial assessment.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way assets other than the family home will be treated in deciding the contribution a person will be expected to make towards nursing home costs before a deferred charge against that person's share of the family home will be registered. [31807/07]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the new nursing home support scheme, people who require long-term residential care will contribute up to 80% of their assessable income, whether for public or private nursing home care. Assessable income includes, for example, State and personal pensions, as well as a 5% contribution from liquid assets. Depending on the amount of a person's assessable income, there will also be a contribution of up to 5% of a person's non-liquid assets. The portion of the contribution relating to non-liquid assets, such as a person's house, may be deferred. This means that it does not have to be met during the person's lifetime and can be payable on settlement of the person's estate instead. The deferred contribution will be based on the actual number of weeks spent in residential care and on the cost of care and, consequently, may be less than 5% per annum. I would take this opportunity to emphasise that no one will pay more than the cost of their care.

Where the deferred contribution applies to the principal private residence, it will be capped at a maximum of 15%, or 7.5% in the case of one spouse remaining in the home while the other enters long-term residential care. This means that after three years in care, a person will not be liable for any further deferred contribution based on the principal residence. It also means that 85% of the value of the principal residence may be maintained for the beneficiaries of the person's estate. This is not something that can be guaranteed at the moment. A person or his/her family can also choose to pay the deferred contribution at the time when care is being received instead of allowing it to be levied upon the estate if they so wish. Where a spouse or certain dependants are living in the principal residence, the deferred contribution in respect of the residence can be further deferred until after the death of that spouse or dependant, or until such time as a person previously qualifying as a dependant ceases to qualify as such. The final details of the Bill are being addressed at present. The Minister proposes to publish the Bill as soon as possible, following Government approval.