Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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480. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update following correspondence issued to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability Matters stating that the long stay contribution legislation is currently receiving attention, the outcome of this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7542/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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On 1 January 2017, a "long-stay" residential support services maintenance and accommodation contributions framework under sections 67A to 67D of the Health Act 1970 and the Health (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions) Regulations 2016 replaced the former system of long stay charges for in-patient services.

Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions, RSSMACs, are contributions towards accommodation and maintenance costs, and are not charges for care services.

The features of the RSSMACs framework ensure that it is reasonable and fair and that each service user’s contributions are based on what they can afford, taking account of the service user’s individual circumstances to ensure the avoidance of financial hardship.Rates are set at a level intended to ensure that each service recipient is guaranteed to retain sufficient income for personal user to support independence and participation in community activities.

Responsibility for RSSMAC transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in March 2023.

There are currently no plans to review the Health Act as it concerns RSSMAC, however, the relevant regulations are ordinarily amended when the rate of RSSMAC is updated.