Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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434. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the amendment of the nursing homes support - fair deal - scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18377/16]

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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444. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider reducing the timeframe from five to three years for transferred assets and income being included in the financial assessment for farm families and other self-employed persons under the nursing home support -fair deal - scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18436/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 444 together.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those assessed as needing long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.

It is Government policy to encourage orderly succession arrangements for farms, and this is endorsed by the farming organisations. In most cases early succession arrangements should ensure the transfer of farm assets well in excess of five years before nursing home care is required, meaning that a levy on the farm asset is avoided.

A person's Principal Private Residence (PPR) is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of the NHSS participants' time in care. Importantly, the farm or relevant business can also qualify for this three year cap where unexpected health events prevent early succession arrangements. This applies where:

a) The applicant has suffered a sudden illness or disability which caused them to require care services and

b) A substantial part of the working day of the applicant or their partner was regularly and consistently applied to the farming of the farm or carrying on of the relevant business until the onset of the sudden illness or disability, and

c) A family successor certifies in writing that he or she will on a consistent and regular basis apply a substantial part of his or her working day to the farming of the farm or the carrying on of the relevant business.

When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Review was published in July 2015. 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. In advance of the Review, submissions were sought from groups or bodies who wished to make a contribution, and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) made a submission in this context on which they expanded at a subsequent meeting with officials of the Department of Health.

An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. This Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives 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. The Group will consider the submission already made by the IFA.

The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to reviewing the NHSS to remove any discrimination against small business and family farms. The IFA will be contacted by the Working Group in this regard in the near future.