James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views, with regard to the €110 million ring-fenced for the implementation of the fair deal for nursing home care, on allowing fair deal funding to be used to enhance nursing home subvention supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28741/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the portion of the €110 million ring-fenced for the implementation of the fair deal for nursing home care that has been spent to date; and what this has been spent on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28754/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 165 together.

My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, and I are conscious of the effect that the unavoidable and unforeseen delays in implementing Fair Deal are causing to some older people and their families. To date, €13 million has been allocated from the additional monies provided in Budget 2008 for the provision of 200 contract beds. Approval has also been given to HSE to utilise a further €12 million in meeting costs associated with nursing home subventions and existing contract beds.

This brings to €25 million the total funding redirected from Fair Deal and committed to nursing home supports in 2008. Any further decisions regarding the redeployment of Fair Deal funding will have to be taken within the overall context of the financial situation of the HSE.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that the Government already allocated additional funding of €105 million for Nursing Home Subvention in 2006 and 2007.