Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to prioritise applications for fair deal in the circumstances in which eligible applicants exceed the budget made available; or will the scheme be demand led? [28885/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme will be resource capped. This could give rise to waiting lists if resources run out in a given year. However, this potential for waiting lists to arise will be managed by means of the estimates process. The Government will have the opportunity in each financial year to allocate what it deems the appropriate amount required to meet the needs of applicants under the scheme.

All those who qualify for State support under the scheme will have been assessed as needing long-term residential care. In other words, all will have a recognised need. As such, the only equitable basis for managing the waiting list is on a first come, first served basis. First come in this case means the first applicant to avail of a nursing home place. In other words, an applicant who is seeking a particular nursing home cannot delay other applicants who have accepted a place.