Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Health and Children

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

9:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the fact that the annual full year allocation for the fair deal scheme in 2008 was €110 million and that the annual full year allocation for the fair deal scheme in 2010 is €97 million; her views on whether this reduction of more than 10% will limit the number of persons who may participate in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48516/09]

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In 2008, funding of €110 million was allocated for the introduction of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal. A dedicated subhead for long-term residential care was also established (subhead B16 in Vote 40). Including the additional allocation of €110 million, the total funding in subhead B16 at the beginning of 2008 was €920 million. Due to the delay in introducing the scheme, €25 million of the €110 million was reallocated to support the provision of additional contract beds and nursing home subventions. The balance of the €110 million was used to meet other costs within the health services in 2008 as part of the Government's budgetary consolidation measures.

In 2009, €55 million was allocated for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The level of funding allocated reflected the fact that the legislation providing for the scheme would be enacted during the course of 2009, enabling only part-year implementation of the scheme. The legislation was subsequently signed into law on the 1st July 2009 and the scheme commenced on the 27th October 2009. The funding of €55 million remains in the subhead for long-term residential care in 2010 and is supplemented by the additional €97 million committed in Budget 2010. This brings the total funding in the subhead to €1.006 billion. Therefore, the 2010 funding allocation does not represent a reduction in funding but rather an increase. It is envisaged that this funding will support the successful introduction of the scheme in 2010, taking account of increased demand arising from demographic trends.

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