Written answers
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Department of Health and Children
Nursing Home Subventions
5:00 pm
Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that recent increases in nursing home charges in some nursing homes in County Louth are causing concern and worry for elderly and infirm residents who cannot afford to pay these increases and the subsequent refusal of the Health Service Executive to grant an increase to people receiving subvention in these homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9405/09]
Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of private nursing homes is set by the nursing home and is not determined by the Department. The Health Service Executive can pay an approved subvention to the nursing home of the applicants' choice and the payment of the balance of the nursing home fee is a matter between the applicant and the nursing home under the contract of care agreed between these parties.
The existing subvention scheme is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Act 2007. Under the Act, the maximum amount for basic subvention is â¬300 per week. The Act also provides for an 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 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.
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