Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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797. To ask the Minister for Health if the budget for the nursing home support scheme affects in any way local HSE service budgets on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19236/17]

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.

The Scheme operates under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, 2009. The maximum prices to be paid in public facilities, and referred to as the cost of care, are set by the HSE, laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and are published on the HSE website. The Scheme covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:

- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;

- Bed and board;

- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of everyday living;

- Laundry service

The Scheme has a national ring-fenced budget of €940 million in 2017, providing support to just over 23,600 people by the end of the year. The budget is administered by the NHSS National Office in Tullamore. In order to manage the available funds within the budget throughout the year, a national placement list is operated by the HSE. Funding approvals issue to applicants in chronological order. In 2017 the time applicants to the Scheme spend on the placement list for funding should not exceed 4 weeks.