Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health the specific services for clients which are covered by the fair deal nursing home scheme; his plans to review the level of cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35383/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care. 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.

Incontinence wear, where required, is provided free of charge by the HSE to all Nursing Homes Support Scheme residents that possess a Medical Card.

There are no immediate plans to review the services which fall within the scope of the scheme. However, the scheme is due for formal review in 2012. The Scheme will be three years in operation at that stage. The reason for allowing this period to elapse is to ensure that trends and statistics will be available in order to inform this work. The review will look at, amongst other issues, the ongoing sustainability of the scheme, the relative costs of public versus private provision and the balance of funding between residential and community care.