Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the improvements she is making in the nursing home subvention to which extra money was allocated in July 2008; the value of the maximum standard weekly subvention; the general income eligibility threshold which applies; the maximum value of enhanced subvention; the income eligibility thresholds for receiving enhanced subvention which are to be applied until the fair deal comes into force; and if this system of subvention will remain an option after the fair deal is put in place. [33195/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The existing subvention scheme is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007. Under the Act, the maximum amount for basic subvention is €300 per week. The Act also provides for enhanced subvention to be paid. However, there is no maximum amount set for enhanced subvention. The amount paid is at the discretion of the HSE. It varies according to the cost of care and is subject to the HSE's resources.

In order to qualify for a subvention, an individual must be: a) sufficiently dependent to require maintenance in a nursing home, and b) unable to pay any or part of the cost of maintenance in the home. In order to determine this, they must undergo a means assessment which takes account of their income and assets.

In an improvement to the scheme in 2007, a person's principal private residence is now excluded from the means assessment after three years. The 2007 Act provides that the HSE may, at its discretion, refuse to pay subvention where: a) the applicant's assets exceed €36,000, b) the applicant's principal residence is valued at over €500,000 (where the property is in the Dublin area) or over €365,000 (where the property is outside of the Dublin area) and the principal residence is not occupied by the applicant's spouse or certain relatives who satisfy the conditions set out in the Act and the applicant's annual income is not less than €10,400, or c) the applicant does not fall within a) or b) but has an annual income in excess of €36,000.

However, the HSE's National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme stipulate that no application should be refused solely on the grounds of the house value alone but that relevant applications should be processed in full, an income imputed as per the guidelines and if appropriate refused on basis of excess means.

The subvention scheme will continue to operate pending the commencement of the new Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal. In July 2008, approval was given to HSE to utilise a further €12 million in meeting costs associated with nursing home subventions and existing contract beds. Once the new scheme is introduced, people in approved nursing homes will be able to apply for the new scheme or can remain on their existing subvention payment should they so wish. However, no new applications for subvention may be made after the introduction of the Fair Deal.