Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive is taking the same action towards senior management salaries as they are doing towards subvention for the elderly that is freezing the allowance to 2007 costs; if she condones the HSE's failure to support the most vulnerable people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14260/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Home Subvention Scheme was introduced in 1993 to assist with the cost of private nursing home fees. A subvention may be paid where a person has been assessed as needing nursing home care by the Health Service Executive and where the person has satisfied a means test. Since the 1st January 2007 there are no longer three separate rates for subvention. Persons who apply may receive any amount up to a maximum of €300 per week.

An enhanced subvention contribution, which is an additional discretionary contribution, may be paid by the HSE in addition to basic subvention. These discretionary contributions are subject to the limit of the resources available for the scheme.

There is no set amount of enhanced subvention contribution. The amount payable in each individual case will vary depending on the following criteria: the assessed means of the applicant; the cost of care in the individual case compared to the level of fees in the locality; the amount of basic subvention payable; the amount of resources available for the scheme; the need for the HSE to ensure that the available resources are distributed in a way that supports applicants as evenly as possible across the country. Guidelines on the operation of the nursing home subvention scheme are available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie.

The choice of private nursing home is a matter for the applicant and/or their representatives. The HSE pays the approved subvention to the nursing home of the applicant's choice and the payment of the balance of the nursing home fee is a matter between the applicant and the nursing home under the contract of care agreed between these parties.

As the Deputy is aware funding for health services has been provided as part of the Executive's overall vote for health and personal social services in 2008. The allocation of resources is a matter for the Executive in accordance with the overall priorities for particular services as set out in its Service Plan.

With regard to the payment of salaries within the HSE, under Section 22 of the Health Act 2004, the Executive determines the terms and conditions, including remuneration and allowances, of its employees, with the Minister's approval which is given with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

The rates of remuneration to the senior management posts within the Health Sector recently underwent a rigorous, independent evaluation by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, whose report (Report No. 42) was published by the Government on 25 October 2007. Pay increases, will be implemented in relation to the relevant Health Sector grades, in line with the recommendations of the Review Body.