Vol. 514 No. 3
235 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional resources he has provided for nursing home care and facilities for persons who require long-term care; the payments available through the health boards for assistance in the payment of nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/00]
On the capital side, I have provided increased funding in the area of services for older people since coming into office and this has facilitated the development of new community nursing units in locations such as Dublin, Fermoy, Achill, Killybegs, Virginia, Ballyconnell, Birr and Clonmel. On the revenue side, I am providing funding to operate these new faciliteis when they become ready to open. I am also providing revenue funding to improve staff ratios in long-stay units to compensate for increased levels of dependency.
Under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, the health boards provide subventions to assist persons in meeting the costs of nursing home care. However, it was never intended that subventions would meet the full costs involved. There are three rates of subvention payable, £70, £95 and £120, in accordance with three levels of dependency, medium, high and maximum, which are eligible for subvention. Since coming into office, this Government has increased the level of funding on subventions from £17 million in 1997 to approximately £38 million in 2000. This additional funding has been made available to provide for, inter alia, increases in the number of people in receipt of subventions, and higher overall levels of dependency resulting in more people receiving the higher rates of subventions.
