Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that financial assessment required for some applicants in respect of the fair deal scheme is leading to many persons that are ready for discharge being forced to stay in acute hospitals while they await a decision; if she will give direction to addressing this problem so that beds will be freed up in acute hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6978/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE is working with the acute hospitals and nursing homes to expedite the process of allowing individuals who have finished their acute phase of care to move to nursing home care where this is deemed appropriate. It is not necessary for the financial assessment to be completed before a person enters a nursing home. The HSE's Guidelines on the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme state that, subject to overall resources, people who enter nursing homes after the commencement of the scheme 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. This means that a person who is being treated in an acute hospital and who is assessed as requiring long-term nursing home care can move into an approved nursing home while their financial assessment is being processed.