Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to change the means assessment of business and farm assets for the nursing home subvention scheme, so that there would be a cap of three years on the contribution to be made, in lieu of assets of this type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35931/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published on 20th July 2015. The Review included a general examination of the operation of the Scheme, as well as the balance between residential care and care in the community, and a number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies, including the treatment of business and farm assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme.

An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group is currently being established to progress the recommendations contained in the Report. This Group will be chaired by the Department of Health and will comprise relevant officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This Group is due to report to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.