Community care residents to be charged for their keep

Hundreds of people in long- stay community care who, up to now, contributed little or nothing towards their upkeep face first-time or hiked charges under a new contributions regime.

From January 1, approximately 1,700 service users in the disability and mental health sectors who live in non-nursing community settings funded by or on behalf of the HSE, will contribute a maximum of €70 a week towards living costs.

The Department of Health said the arrangement means approximately 1,100 people will contribute less per week than they currently pay, but the remaining 600 will have to pay the same or more.