Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by persons applying to the nursing home support scheme who have transferred assets within the past five years in view of the fact that these assets would have been transferred long before there was any need for nursing home care; if there are any exemptions to the five year rule in these situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11247/17]

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.

In order to determine how much an applicant will contribute to the cost of their care, a financial assessment is carried out by the HSE which takes account of a person's income and assets. As part of this assessment, the HSE identifies any income or assets that the applicant and his/her partner may have deprived themselves of in the five years leading up to their application, or at any time on or subsequent to the date on which the application for financial support under the Scheme is first made. Such assets are defined in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009 as 'transferred assets' and 'transferred income'. Under the legislation there are no exemptions in relation to transferred assets.

It should be noted that a person's principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of the applicant's time in care.