Written answers

Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Department of Health

Care of the Elderly

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a Supplementary Estimate will need to be introduced or amending legislation to alter the fair deal scheme in view of the current shortfall. [13328/11]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the €100 million ring-fenced for the fair deal will be returned by the Health Service Executive to its rightful purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13371/11]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive is continuing to block the return of allocated funds to the fair deal scheme on the pretext that it has not been given the necessary clarity by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13372/11]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he considers it equitable that the Health Service Executive is using delaying tactics to avoid his directions in a way which is detrimental to its own medium and long-term budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13373/11]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive is prepared to confirm that no further elderly and vulnerable adults will be held in the community or in hospital on account of the lack of allocated funding under the fair deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13374/11]

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason money reallocated from the fair deal is being utilised for pharmaceuticals and physiotherapy for residents in nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13375/11]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if approvals are issuing under the fair deal scheme in all Health Service Executive regions throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13531/11]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when he expects to be in a position to offer a resolution in respect of the delivery of long stay accommodation support under the fair deal scheme; if he expects to be in a position to redeploy resources to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13657/11]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 311, 315 to 319, inclusive, 332 and 351 together.

As the Deputies are aware, the Minister for Health and Children has recently been made aware of a serious shortfall in the Fair Deal budget for this year. The budget is coming under pressure from, amongst other things, increases in overall costs and increases in net demand for long term care. Furthermore, the HSE has advised that the Long-term Residential Care subhead is also funding services other than those covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. I understand these other services, which include therapies and medications, are being provided to people in nursing homes.

The decision to suspend approvals under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was made by the HSE on Friday, 13th May 2011 and a letter issued to each Regional Director of Operations for further distribution to all hospitals in their areas. A copy of this letter was sent to the Department of Health and Children on Tuesday, 17th May. The Minister for Health and Children was advised that day and a meeting with the HSE took place that evening.

A full examination of the funding situation is underway, conducted jointly by the Department of Health and the HSE. This examination is to be completed by Friday June 3rd, 2011. The Minister has sought further information about the level of funding provided for, and the costs drivers impacting on, the Long-term Residential Care subhead. The main priority at this stage is to establish what steps might be taken to allow more people to benefit from the scheme. In the meantime, applications for financial support under the scheme will continue to be accepted and processed. However, decisions to grant approval will be subject to the availability of funding.

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