Minister Maire Hoctor Welcomes Additional Financial Support Of 12 Million Euros For Older People In Nursing Homes

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Caregivers / Homecare
Article Date: 11 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Maire Hoctor TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for Older People, welcomed the provision of 12 million euros in additional supports for older people in private nursing homes.

The Minister stated that she is very conscious of the effect that the unavoidable and unforeseen delays in implementing the new Fair Deal Scheme is having on older people in long term residential care. She strongly welcomed the sanction by the Minister for Finance to re-allocate 12 million euros of the funding provided for Fair Deal for the purposes of nursing home subventions.

The new Nursing Home Support Scheme - A Fair Deal - was due to commence this year and Budget 2008 allocated €110 million its introduction. However, the scheme has been delayed due to the complexity of the legislation and is now expected to start in January 2009.

This provision of €12 million is in addition to 200 new contract beds which were approved by the Minister for Health and Children in January of this year at a cost of €13 million.

Minister Máire Hoctor noted that this brings to €25 million the total funding redirected from Fair Deal and committed to nursing home supports in 2008. She stated, "I hope that these measures will assist older people and their families in advance of the completion and implementation of legislation on the Fair Deal." The Minister also highlighted the Government's prior commitment to supporting older people in nursing homes with additional funding of €105 million for Nursing Home Subvention being provided in 2006 and 2007.

Department of Health and Children, Ireland