Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will publish the Fair Deal Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill; the schedule of implementation intended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36735/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008 was published on the 9th October. The Minister intends to bring the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible.

Budget 2009 provided €55 million for the implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme next year. This brings the total funding in the subhead for long-term residential care to €909 million. The scheme will be introduced, in the context of this funding allocation, once the legislation has been passed and the Act commenced.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will indicate that the budget allocation for the fair deal scheme will take account of inflation relative to the amount promised in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36736/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Budget 2009 provided €55 million for the implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme next year. This brings the total funding in the subhead for long-term residential care to €909 million. The Department is carefully considering the implementation of the scheme within the context of that allocation.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will finalise the outstanding Health Service Executive Payments in enhanced subvention overdue to nursing home residents and families since January 2008; when payments for contract beds due to nursing home operators will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36737/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, the Department is advised by the HSE that it is currently working to distribute the funding referred to by the Deputy.

The HSE further advise that all private nursing home providers have been written to and advised of the revised arrangements and individual files are being reviewed at Local Health Office level. The calculations are quite substantial in respect of these individual cases and work will continue between now and the end of the year to make the necessary payments with appropriate arrears being paid where appropriate. Nursing Homes Ireland have also been advised of the position.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide resources to support the implementation of the draft national quality standards for residential care settings for older persons based on the regulatory impact assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36738/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Regulatory Impact Assessment referred to by the Deputy will include an assessment of the resource/financial implications of the draft standards. It is hoped to complete the RIA shortly.