Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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879. To ask the Minister for Health in recognition of the fact that there are not enough nursing home beds available to meet the needs of the elderly in the Louth-Meath area; the reason the fair deal scheme is not transferable for long term or temporary care in the North when patients can be funded for respite care in facilities in the North; the reason it became practice not to fund long term care in the North; if he will consider providing funding for long term care in the North through the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1468/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme does not extend to nursing homes in Northern Ireland. This issue was given careful consideration before the Scheme was introduced in 2009. The decision not to extend the Scheme to Northern Ireland was taken by the Government of the day on the basis of legal advice received from the Attorney General's Office.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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880. To ask the Minister for Health the manner in which farms are taken into account when assessing applications for the fair deal scheme; if family farms are treated the same as the family home or if there are other factors in play; if so, if he will provide the details of those factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1470/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, individuals contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% of the value of any assets per annum towards their cost of care. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment.

An individual’s principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap. The three year cap also extends to farms and businesses in circumstances where:

- the person has suffered a sudden illness or disability which causes them to need long-term nursing home care, and

- the person or their partner was actively engaged in the daily management of the farm or business up until the time of the sudden illness or disability,

and

- a family successor certifies that he or she will continue the management of the farm or business.

In the case of couples, the measure applies where the applicant suffered a sudden and unforeseen illness and either or both members of the couple have been engaged in the running of the family farm or business. This stipulation is in keeping with the key principle of joint assessment of couples.

This measure is intended to ensure the financial sustainability of farms and businesses in cases where a person suffered a sudden illness and did not have an opportunity to put appropriate succession arrangements in place. It affords additional protection because it ensures that a person’s maximum contribution is fully quantifiable.