Nursing home patient scheme delayed

DELAYS in introducing the new payments scheme for nursing home patients will save €85m towards the Government’s cost-cutting plan.

The Fair Deal scheme, which overhauls the subvention supports system, was due to come into effect last January, but it has been bogged down in legal and logistical problems.

A total of €110m was set aside for the scheme this year, but just €25 million will now be spent — €13m on 200 extra nursing home beds and €12m for increased subvention arising from increases in nursing home fees.