Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of recipients of the fair deal in 2009 and 2010 who received therapy services from the State and the number paying for these therapy services privately. [8538/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal, provides financial support in respect of the cost of long-term residential care. Over 11,700 people qualified for support under the Scheme in 2010. The services which fall within the scope of long-term residential care are:

nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person,

basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living,

bed and board, and

laundry service.

The Scheme does not cover therapies because a person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme, is unaffected by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. In other words, a person can continue to receive goods and services in accordance with the terms of these other schemes regardless of whether they are in a private nursing home or elsewhere.

In determining the services covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the new Nursing Homes Support Scheme (i.e. as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same items or service). Nursing home residents that choose to make private arrangements to receive therapy services are not required to notify these arrangements to either my Department or the HSE. As such, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the number of recipients of the Fair Deal who paid for therapy services privately.

With regard to the number of recipients of the Fair Deal who received therapy services from the State, currently these services are provided having regard to demand, availability of resources and on a priority basis based on clinical need. However, a National Ancillary Group was established in January 2010 to undertake a national review of the provision of therapy services and aids and appliances to private nursing homes, public and voluntary units, and to make recommendations with regard to introducing standardised provision of these services. Based on this review, a framework and guidance document for healthcare professionals, registered providers, and residents is currently being prepared. This document is expected to be finalised by mid June 2011 to enable consultation with the wider system.