Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she expects the nursing home Bill to be operational; if funding is ring-fenced for the later part of 2009 to implement the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20482/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil. It is the Minister's intention to progress the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas with a view to implementing the scheme in the second half of 2009.

Budget 2009 provided €55 million for the implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme this year and the scheme will be introduced in the context of this funding allocation. In advance of the introduction of the scheme, a dedicated subhead for long-term residential care has been established within the Health Service Executive's Vote (subhead B16 in Vote 40). The total funding in the subhead for 2009 stands at €909 million and expenditure from this subhead is being monitored on a monthly basis.