Shock at delay over 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.
Health Minister Mary Harney pointed out that a total of €144.35m earmarked for the health service will not be spent this year.
A saving of €35m will result from the slower-than-expected roll-out of new developments announced in the budget while €21.35m will be from savings in administrative costs across the department and in all agencies other than the HSE.
The minister stressed, however, that the development of the national children’s hospital at the Mater Hospital site in Dublin — a priority for expenditure, was still going ahead as planned.
And, she said, the planned redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, would not be delayed.
Ms Harney said she was confident that proposed legislation underpinning the Fair Deal scheme would be introduced in the Dáil in the autumn.
She explained that the drafting of the legislation had taken a long time because she was anxious that it would not be open to challenge and be struck down.
The minister pointed out that €13m would be taken from the Fair Deal provision of €110m and spent on 200 extra contract nursing home beds. A further €12m would be used for enhanced subvention arising from increases in the cost of nursing home fees.
Age Action is concerned that the Fair Deal scheme might be shelved.
“The continued delay in implementing reforms in how long-term care is funded has left many older people and their families facing unexpected nursing home charges. These people need clarity,” said Age Action spokesperson, Gerard Scully.
Nursing Homes Ireland said the move was a clear example of older people being victims of Government cuts.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny described the €85m spending cut in care for the elderly as “savage and shameful”.
