Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the increased high dependency subvention for nursing home patients that was due to start on 1 January 2008 has not been provided; if she will address this matter; and if she will back date the payment to 1 January 2008. [45688/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal. The legislation required in order to introduce the Scheme is complex and involved careful drafting in order to ensure that the interests of older people requiring residential care are fully protected.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008 was published on 9 October and the Minister introduced it at Second Stage in the Dáil on 13 November. It is intended to progress the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas with a view to implementing the scheme in 2009. The Bill provides for financial support under the new scheme to be backdated to the date of the commencement of the Act for existing residents.