Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the findings of the review of the fair deal scheme to assess its applicability to other sectors such as the disability and mental health residential sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The reason for allowing this period to elapse was to ensure that the Scheme had bedded in and that established trends would be available in order to inform the work of the Review. The Review is being carried out by my Department in collaboration with the HSE, with analysis and recommendations provided by an external service provider on specific issues which required specialised expertise.

One of the Terms of Reference for the Review is to consider the extension of the scheme to community based services and to other sectors (Disability and Mental Health). The elements of the Review that relate to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme itself are well-defined, but an effective assessment of the Scheme for the future requires consideration of where it fits within the spectrum of services and supports for older people, and of how the make-up of and balances within this spectrum may change over time. This exercise is broader than was first envisaged and the various issues arising are now being systematically considered with a view to completion and publication as early as possible.