Elderly ‘won’t pay’ for Fair Deal reforms

A detailed Government review of the Fair Deal scheme will not increase costs for vulnerable elderly people or end the universal legal right to access the service when it is given to the Department of Health next week.

Minister of state with responsibility for the area Kathleen Lynch specifically ruled out the potential moves yesterday despite warning that the €950m system needs another €30m every year and insisting that reforms must ensure the service becomes demand-led, rather that budget-led.

Speaking 24 hours after she told the Oireachtas health committee “the notion you would pay €260-€290 for a service costing anything up to €1,200 is unsustainable”, Ms Lynch stressed struggling families will not face extra costs or lose supports.