Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is the case that persons who apply for the fair deal scheme who are not in a nursing home will only qualify from the date of the decision rather than the date of application; the assistance that is available to pay for their nursing home care in the interim; the system in place to ensure that there is no undue delay in processing the applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45389/09]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE's Guidelines on the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, which have been approved by the Minister for Health and Children, state that, subject to overall resources, new entrants to nursing homes will have their financial support paid either from the date that the application was made or from date of admission to the nursing home, whichever is the later. It is not, therefore, the case that applicants will only qualify from date of determination.

It is acknowledged that, in the initial months following the introduction of the scheme, the HSE will have to deal with a huge volume of applications from both existing residents and new entrants. However, this should not impact negatively on existing residents due to the safeguards provided within the primary legislation. The legislation provides that applicants to the scheme who were in nursing home care on the date the scheme commenced (27th October 2009) shall have their State support backdated to that date. New entrants shall have their support paid in accordance with the HSE's Guidelines, as outlined above.

The HSE has indicated that the expected timelines for processing applications under the new Nursing Homes Support Scheme and making a determination regarding financial support will vary according to individual circumstances and complexities. However, on average, the following timelines are estimated (assuming that the submitted application is fully and correctly completed): Straightforward State Support Application, 1-2 weeks; Straightforward Nursing Home Loan Application, 3-4 weeks.