Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action which can be taken to assist a patient who is receiving the maximum rate of subvention from the Health Service Executive for a nursing home place, who has sold their home and used the proceeds to fund their nursing home costs, but nonetheless has now entered a situation in which they have no assets and an arrears is building up owed to the nursing home; if the introduction of the Fair Deal proposals will make special provision for cases in which the family home has been sold and exhausted but an arrear has still arisen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4053/09]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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An individual in the position outlined by the Deputy may apply to the HSE for enhanced subvention or an increased rate of enhanced subvention. There is no maximum rate of enhanced subvention stipulate in the relevant legislation. The amount paid is at the discretion of the HSE and will vary depending on the following criteria: the assessed means of the applicant; the cost of care in the individual case compared to the level of fees in the locality; the amount of basic subvention payable; the amount of resources available for the scheme; the need for the HSE to ensure that the available resources are distributed in a way that supports applicants as evenly as possible across the country.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme will be available to all nursing home residents, regardless of whether they have assets. However, the Bill does not make provision for payment of arrears that have accumulated prior to the Scheme commencing.