Shock at delay over nursing home funding scheme

LOBBY group Age Action is shocked and disappointed that the Department of Health has clawed back a huge chunk of money allocated to a new nursing home funding scheme.

Of the €110 million set aside for the Fair Deal nursing home support scheme, €85m is now being taken back as savings by the department.

The scheme, announced by the Government in December 2006, will allow the cost of nursing home care to be part-funded from people’s estates after their death.