Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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478. To ask the Minister for Health further to commitments made in the programme for Government, when he will provide additional funding for the nursing home support scheme and introduce changes to remove discrimination against small businesses and family farms under the fair deal nursing home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2950/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their income and assets while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings. A financial assessment is carried out by the HSE to determine how much a participant in the Scheme will contribute to the cost of their care.

Funding for the Scheme in 2017 is €940 million. This represents an increase of €18.5 million on 2016 expenditure, and will enable an additional 500 people to be supported in 2017, increasing the numbers supported under the Scheme to just over 23,600 by the end of the year. Time spent on the placement list for funding is not expected to exceed four weeks during 2017.

When the NHSS commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. Arising out of the Review, 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. This work is currently underway and the IFA has made a submission in this context to the Interdepartmental Group which is overseeing the implementation of certain recommendations contained in the Review. The proposals put forward by the IFA are currently being considered. Once all of the relevant Review recommendations have been considered, any amendments required to the Scheme will be identified. Any changes to the Scheme which require legislative implementation will be addressed collectively.