Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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675. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the fair deal scheme in view of the fact that the ESRI projects additional requirement for 888 long term residential care places per annum to 2021 [25693/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to consider developing a secure and equitable system of financing for community and long-term care which supports older people to stay in their own homes. In advance of this piece of work being carried out, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is being reviewed. The review of the Scheme will inform the commitment made in the Programme for Government. The terms of reference for the review are: Taking account of Government policy, demographic trends and the fiscal situation - 1. To examine the on-going sustainability of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme; 2. To examine the overall cost of long term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating/setting prices; 3. Having regard to 1 and 2 above, to consider the balance of funding between long-term residential care and community based services; 4. To consider the extension of the scheme to community based services and to other sectors (Disability and Mental Health), and; 5. To make recommendations for the future operation and management of the Scheme. Work will continue on the review in the coming months with a view to completion by end 2013-early 2014.