Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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883. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of introducing universal free nursing home care. [34568/17]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, 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 has a budget of €940 million in 2017, providing support to just over 23,600 people by the end of the year with a waiting time for funding not expected to exceed four weeks this year. This equates to an approximate cost of care of almost €40,000 per person in 2017. However, it should be noted that any estimation of the cost of universal free nursing home care would depend on a number of factors, including demand for long-term residential care at any particular point in time; changes in population health status; changes in the cost of care; possible new models of care of older people in the future; and the average length of stay of residents in long-term residential care facilities.

It is also important to note that there are residents in long-term residential care facilities who are privately funding their own care i.e. they are not in receipt of state support under the NHSS.

Furthermore, the NHSS 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.

An estimated cost of services provided by nursing home providers and which are not covered under the NHSS basket of services is not available.

As such, it is not possible to provide an estimated annual cost of introducing universal free nursing home care.