Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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1092. To ask the Minister for Health the reason nursing homes support scheme payments are not backdated to the date of completion of assessment; his plans to backdate them; if so, the date on which this change will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/18]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The Nursing Homes Support Scheme 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 means 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. Anyone who is assessed as requiring long-term residential care can avail of the Scheme, regardless of age, as long as the person’s care needs can be appropriately met in a nursing home that participates in the Scheme. The applicant can choose any public, voluntary or approved private nursing home. The home must have availability and be able to cater for the applicant's particular needs.

The Department of Health agree a set level of funding for the NHSS with the HSE each year having regard for the demand for the Scheme and the overall fiscal position. In 2017 the funding was set at €940m and provided long term residential care for over 23,000 people. In order to manage the demand for the Scheme over a 12 month period, the HSE has a target of maintaining the wait time for funding approval at no more than 4 weeks. This target has consistently been achieved since April 2015 and it is a significant reduction from the October 2014 wait time of 15 weeks. The target of 4 weeks for approval of funding remains a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government. The budget for NHSS in 2018 has been set at €962m.