Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the following matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31471/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced on the 27th October 2009 and replaced the scheme of Nursing Home Subvention which had been in existence since 1993. Individuals who were resident in nursing homes on the 27th October 2009, as well as individuals who enter nursing homes after that date, can apply for the scheme.

Under the scheme individuals undergo a financial assessment to work out their contribution to care. A person's contribution is based on 80% of their assessable income and 5% of the value of their assets, if any, per annum. The first €36,000 of a person's assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not included at all in the assessment.

Furthermore, the legislation provides that applicants to the scheme who were in an approved nursing home on the date the scheme commenced shall have their State Support backdated to that date.

Therefore, the individual referred to by the Deputy can apply for financial support under the scheme and is entitled to have her State support backdated, subject to her nursing home qualifying as an approved home.

Applications for the scheme are made to the local Nursing Homes Support Office. In this case the local office can be contacted at:

Nursing Homes Support Office

Civic Office,

Main Street,

Ballymun,

Dublin 9.

Tel: 01 8467148

The local office can also provide individuals with the Information Booklet and Application form for the scheme. Alternatively, these are available on the HSE's website www.hse.ie