Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to introduce a nursing home support scheme for persons requiring a short stay in nursing homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12447/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, has no plans to introduce a scheme of financial support specifically for short-term care in nursing homes. However, I would like to alert the Deputy to the availability of the respite care grant which is paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to carers and which can be used to cover the cost of short-term care in a nursing home. I would also like to draw the Deputy's attention to a number of wider developments which are currently ongoing and which are of relevance to the issue of short-term care.

Firstly, the Department of Health and Children is currently preparing a new legislative framework to provide for clear statutory provisions on eligibility and entitlement for all health and personal social services. On completion of this undertaking, proposals will be brought to Government for approval. Secondly, the Department has commenced work on analysis of future funding models for long-term care. This work will involve a detailed exploration of financially sustainable funding options to support the provision of all long-term care services, both community-based and residential. In line with the Government's commitment to supporting people to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, the work will consider the continuum of care services, including the role of short-term care, such as step-down or respite care, within nursing homes.