Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 12 February 2009, if in view of the fact that enhanced subvention is governed by an Act, it is legally justified that the Health Service Executive does not allow hard pressed families in County Roscommon the opportunity to apply for enhanced subvention; the reason enhanced subvention is non-existent in Counties Roscommon and Leitrim while it is available in other areas within the HSE west; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some families are deprived of this facility; and if she will ensure that this anomaly is dealt with ensuring all elderly persons in need of nursing home care are treated equally regardless of what county they reside in. [7242/09]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007 allows 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 Health Service Executive (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.

Therefore, this is a service matter and it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.