Thousands of farm families are set to benefit from changes to the Fair Deal scheme which will see the introduction of a cap on farm contributions taken by the State to fund care costs.

Increased corporation tax revenues should be used to fund a new €100m Fair Deal scheme for home care, a report has recommended.

LATEST: Proposals by the Housing Minister to penalise those who have vacant homes have been met with suspicion by landlords.

An elderly couple, inseparable during 63 years of marriage, wept yesterday as they pleaded to be reunited after being split up by red tape governing the Fair Deal nursing home scheme.

A statutory home help scheme is to be established, Health Minister Simon Harris has promised.

The assets of applicants to the Fair Deal nursing home scheme should be subject to stricter checks amid warnings that residents are underdeclaring the value of their homes or wealth, a new report recommends.

The body which represents nursing homes across the country is urging the Minister for Health to publish up-to-date details on the cost of care in Ireland.

Age Action Ireland said that older people with certain medical conditions are not being properly served as part of the Fair Deal scheme.

Minister for Older People Kathleen Lynch has ruled out seeking any increase in contributions from the elderly towards the cost of their nursing home care despite an expert report which says such options should be considered.