Kieran Coughlan: Is scheme a "fair deal" for farmers?

Deciding the optimal time to transfer the family farm, and handing over other assets, have taken on a new dimension over the last number of years, as a result of the introduction of the "Fair Deal" scheme, officially known as the Nursing Home Support Scheme.

This is Ireland’s answer to balancing the personal cost of nursing home care for the individual with financial support from the State.

At a most basic level, the rules are designed such that those who can afford nursing home care are expected to fund their own nursing home care, while those who cannot are covered under State funding.