Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision which he introduced on 1 October 2011, whereby the rules of the fair deal have been changed so that now an applicant will only receive funding from the date he or she is approved and not the date when he or she applies, despite the fact that the person applied upon entering a nursing home, and the person and his or her family is then left facing the full cost of the nursing home in question, which is a considerable sum of money per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33520/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Minister for Health has agreed to an amendment to the HSE's National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The amendment was agreed subject to assurances from the HSE that:

individuals with complex cases will not be disadvantaged,

average processing times for complete applications should not exceed 4-6 weeks,

geographical location will not disadvantage applicants, and

acute hospitals will not be detrimentally affected, subject to the scheme being operated within the financial resources allocated.

The HSE's Guidelines now state that, subject to overall resources, people who enter nursing homes will have their financial support paid either from the date that the application is approved, or date of admission to the nursing home, whichever is the later.

It should be noted that the amendment will have no retrospective effect, will be reviewed in one year and will only apply to applications received after the 1 October 2011.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that delays in the fair deal appeals office is leaving persons in acute hospital beds; and if he will look into the circumstances of a person (details supplied). [33521/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.