Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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840. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons that are currently part of the nursing home support scheme [33243/14]

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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842. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider excluding rental income from the income assessment of a person who is part of the nursing home support scheme, where they agree to rent the home to a recipient of rent supplement, or the new housing assistance payment [33245/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 842 together.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. In 2014 a total amount of €938m is available for the Scheme. As of the end July 2014 (latest figures available) 22,162 people were being supported by the Scheme.

The NHSS is already a generous Scheme which meets by far the greater part of the cost of care for the great majority of participants. The Scheme already includes significant safeguards for residents including:

- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;

- The first €36,000 of a person's assets, or €72,000 for a couple, is not taken into account during the financial assessment;

- The principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of a person's time in care. This three year cap can also apply to family farms/businesses in certain circumstances;

- Where an individual's assets include land and property in the State, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from their estate. This is the optional Nursing Home Loan element of the Scheme;

- Individuals keep a personal allowance of 20% of their income. or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-contributory), whichever is the greater;

- If there is a spouse/partner remaining at home, s/he will retain 50% of the couple's income, or the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-contributory), which ever is the greater;

- Certain items of expenditure, called allowable deductions, can be taken into account during the financial assessment. These allowable deductions include health expenses;

- There is a financial review mechanism which takes account of the fluctuating value of assets and the fact that cash assets will naturally deplete over time as payments are made to nursing homes etc.

In all of these circumstances, it is not envisaged that an additional exclusion could be introduced on the basis suggested by the Deputy.

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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841. To ask the Minister for Health the number of members of the nursing home support scheme who own their own home; and the number of these homes that are no longer inhabited [33244/14]

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.