Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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696. To ask the Minister for Health how the family home is treated in the financial assessment under the nursing home support scheme; how the proceeds from the sale of a home are treated if the property is sold during a person's period of stay in a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37572/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, which commenced in 2009, provides financial support towards the cost of long-term residential care services in nursing homes. Under the Scheme, applicants contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% of the value of any assets per annum towards the cost of their care. In the case of a couple, the applicant's means are assessed as 50% of the couples combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual's assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is disregarded from the financial assessment. The Scheme ensures that applicants retain at least 20% of their income.

An applicant's principal private residence will only be included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care, including time spent in care before the commencement of the Scheme.

If the family home is sold during their period of stay in a nursing home, the proceeds of the sale are treated as a cash asset. This applies whether the residence is sold during or after the first three years in nursing home care.

If the applicant has availed of the Nursing Home Loan, which is an optional benefit of the Scheme whereby the contribution based on land and property may be deferred, and they sell their home during their period of stay in a nursing home, then the amount loaned on the basis of that asset up to that point must be repaid within six months of the sale, adjusted as per the Consumer Price Index.