Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects to publish the Health (Long-term Residential Care Services) Bill; if the legal difficulties encountered have substantially altered her original proposals for the so-called fair deal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32159/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Both the Minister for Health and Children and I are fully committed to introducing the new Nursing Homes Support Scheme in 2009. The legislation required in order to introduce the Scheme is complex and has involved careful drafting in order to ensure that the interests of older people requiring residential care are fully protected. However, the principles of the scheme remain the same as originally announced. The Minister expects to bring the Bill before the Houses of the Oireachtas for debate in this Dáil session.