Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
316. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing NTPF funding to private nursing homes under the fair deal and nursing home support scheme by 10%, by 20% and by 30%, excluding any increase in contributions by residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30331/23]
View answer364. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline, in tabular form, the cost of increasing funding to the NTPF to ensure a 10%, 20% and 30% increase in the fair deal and nursing home support scheme above current funding, broken down by public, private and voluntary providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30379/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 364 together.
The Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone, and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The NHSS supports about 22,500 people. Around 80% of those are supported in private nursing homes, with the remainder in public HSE-run facilities (both systems are funded through the NHSS). There is a total scheme budget of approximately €1.5 billion for 2023. This 2023 figure is a projected figure and, as such, difficult to determine at this point in time but it is anticipated they will be significantly greater than 2022.
Residents in public HSE-run Community Nursing Units (CNU’s) represent approximately 20% of Fair Deal scheme participants (4,500 residents were in CNUs last year).
In March 2022 the HSE published its annual updated cost of providing care in its public residential care centres for older people.
The report gives detailed cost of care in public nursing homes. It shows that the cost of care has increased from €1,674 per week in 2021 to €1,698 per bed per week in 2022. The 1.4% increase can in large part be attributed to pay increases provided under the Lansdowne Road Agreement (funded separately to Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) funds allocated within the HSE Service Plan 2022).
It is important to note that these costs do not relate to the amount a person will pay towards their care under the NHSS (Fair Deal) and that regardless of whether a nursing home resident is in a private, voluntary or public nursing home their contribution to the cost of their own care remains the same.
Data from the HSE indicates that in 2022, the cost to the State in providing care to residents in CNU’s was €360.3m, inclusive of client contributions of approximately €65.9m. Data from the HSE also indicates that in 2022 the cost to the State in providing care to private and voluntary nursing homes, inclusive of client contributions of approximately €295.7m, was €1.033bn.
The table below shows the cost of care exclusive of client contributions with 10%, 20% and 30% increase.
|
- |
2022 |
+10% |
+20% |
+30% |
|
Public |
€294.4m |
€323.8m |
€353.3m |
€382.7m |
|
Private & Voluntary |
€707.6m |
€778.4m |
€849.1m |
€919.9m |
The table below shows the cost of care, inclusive of client contributions, with 10%, 20% and 30% increase.
|
- |
2022 |
+10% |
+20% |
+30% |
|
Public |
€360.3m |
€396.3m |
€432.6m |
€468.4m |
|
Private & Voluntary |
€1.003bn |
€1.103bn |
€1.204bn |
€1.304bn |
