Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will be moved back to a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47768/17]

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.

In line with the legislation there are three main steps to the application process.

Step 1 is an application for a Care Needs Assessment. The Care Needs Assessment identifies whether or not the person needs long-term nursing home care.

Step 2 is an application for State Support. This is used to complete the Financial Assessment by the HSE which assesses the person’s contribution to care and his/her corresponding level of financial assistance (“State Support”). The Financial Assessment takes account of a person’s income and assets in order to determine the person’s contribution to their care.

Step 3 is the decision to approve financial support for the applicant under the scheme.

Applicants to the scheme can choose any public, voluntary or approved private nursing home. However, in order for financial support to be provided, the nursing home must have an available bed and be able to cater for the applicant's particular need. The HSE's Nursing Homes Support Offices can advise an applicant or their family on the options available to them.

In order to qualify for the NHSS an applicant must be deemed to be in need of full time care. There are no provisions to share NHSS funding between the nursing home and the applicants home.