Minister of State Seán Power TD announces publication of Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill, 2006
22 March 2006
Minister of State with Responsibility for Services for Older People, Seán Power, T.D., announced in the Seanad this evening that the government has today published the Health (Nursing Homes) (Amendment) Bill, 2006. This Nursing Homes legislation will ensure that the existing subvention scheme for private nursing home care is grounded in primary legislation and will help the HSE to implement the scheme on a standardised basis across the country. Funding of €6.35 million was allocated for the first full year of the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme in 1994. In 2006, total funding is €160m, including an additional €20m allocated in the 2006 Budget for the scheme. The Bill contains provisions relating to:
- application for prescribed subvention;
- assessment of degree of dependency and means of applicant;
- determination of subvention applications;
- review of degree of dependency and means of dependent persons who are paid subventions;
- appeals against decisions of the Health Service Executive;
- obligation on proprietor of nursing home to notify Executive of death or discharge of dependent person who is paid subvention;
- recovery of payment of relevant subvention procured through fraud or misrepresentation;
- the making of regulations;
- transitional provisions; and
- guidelines to be issued by the HSE.
