Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department investigated the cost saving factor of subvention for applicants to reside in retirement villages rather than long stay hospital placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6086/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am unaware of such an investigation, referred to by the Deputy being carried out. The Deputy will be aware that the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme was introduced in 1993. Under the legislation providing for the Scheme the Health Service Executive (HSE) can make a grant payable towards the cost of providing nursing care in a registered private nursing home.

In order to qualify for a subvention the individual must be sufficiently dependent to require maintenance in a nursing home and unable to pay any or part of the cost of maintenance in the home, i.e., you must pass a means test. In 2007 the HSE circulated National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme to all Local Health Offices. The Guidelines are also available on the HSE's website. Under the guidelines, the assessment of means is to be carried out using a national standard financial assessment method.

On a related note, I would like to draw the Deputy's attention to the Government's commitment to the development of sheltered housing. In 2007 the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government established a Cross Departmental Team on Sheltered Housing, involving the Department of Health and Children, the HSE, Office for Social Inclusion and the local authorities. The Cross Departmental Team will, in conjunction with the Office of the Minister for Older People, develop and oversee policy in relation to sheltered housing provision for older people and agree protocols for integrated management and delivery of housing and related care services. The establishment of the Cross Departmental Team forms part of an overall strategic response to the housing needs of older people, as outlined in the Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive has taken up the twenty percent option on placements in retirement villages in County Kildare that have been determined in the planning applications of such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6087/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.