Written answers
Friday, 6 September 2019
Department of Health
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1359. To ask the Minister for Health if a review of the nursing home subvention scheme is planned; if the disincentives to renting out a home that is owned by a person who is in a nursing home will be examined to examine if the scheme can be altered in order to free up more of the empty homes nationwide to the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36949/19]
Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Under NHSS rental income is considered income for the purpose of the financial assessment, and is assessed at 80% less any allowable deductions. Allowable deductions include income tax and, therefore, any income tax arising from rental income should be deducted; other deductions include some health expenses, levies required by law to be paid, and interest on some loans in respect of a person’s principal private residence.
Action 17 of the Strategy for the Rental Sector commits the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government (DHPLG) to examine the treatment, under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme's financial assessment, of income from the rental of a person's principal private residence where they move into long term residential care. My officials are working with DHPLG officials and examining a number of possible options. I am not in a position, however, to provide detail on these as discussions and detailed examination are ongoing and any potential proposals have not been finalised.
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