Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is continuing to charge costs significantly in excess of private nursing home care to elderly patients in public and HSE run nursing home facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58333/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to variations in the cost of care for public and private nursing homes it is acknowledged that public nursing homes have, in general, a higher cost of care, although there is a wide range of costs in both public care and private care.

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, has been in place since 2009 as a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.

Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income, such as their pension, and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held, such as their principal private residence or cash assets (these values are halved if the applicant is part of a couple).

In this way, for a decade, the scheme has ensured that long-term residential care is accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it.

As such, the cost charged to residents is a contribution towards their care is based on the financial assessment of their ability to pay rather than the cost of care charged to the State. To illustrate this: if a resident is assessed as being able to contribute €300 per week, this is what they will be charged whether they choose to stay in a private nursing home where the cost of care to the State might be €1,000 per week, or in a public nursing home where the cost of care might be €1,500 per week.