Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Health if elderly persons will be asked to contribute more to the Fair Deal Scheme, despite the Minister of State's commitment to the effect that they would not be asked do this; the stage the evaluation by his Department and the Health Service Executive of the report on the scheme is at ; when it will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/15]

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. This review is being carried out by my Department in collaboration with the HSE, with analysis and recommendations provided by Deloitte & Touche Consultants on specific issues which required specialised expertise.

The review is considering the long term sustainability of the Scheme including funding arrangements. No decisions have been taken nor plans in place regarding changes to the to the way the Scheme currently operates.

The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, as well as considering how the Scheme has operated to date, is expected to identify some of the broader issues that will need to be considered and tested more fully into the future, including the future financing of the full range of supports for older people, how community and residential supports and services should be balanced, and whether new care approaches can contribute positively. A continuum of more efficient care might serve to reduce the number of people requiring nursing home care and limit the projected increase in the cost of the Scheme. The draft review requires further analysis and this is ongoing at present.