Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Beverley Flynn has welcomed the sanctioning of additional financial support of €12 million for older people in private nursing homes.
“It is very regrettable that the new Fair Deal Scheme has been delayed and I know it has caused a lot of confusion and disappointment for people,” she said.
“That is why I would particularly like to welcome the move to reallocate this €12 million which had been earmarked for the Fair Deal Scheme, for the purpose of nursing home subventions.”
The Fair Deal Scheme was due to start this year and there was €110 million allocated for it in Budget 2008. But because of unforeseen and unavoidable delays, due to the complexity of the legislation to be introduced, it is now expected that it will start in January of next year. The provision of €12 million is in addition to 200 new contract beds which were approved by the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, in January of this year at a cost of €13 million. And between 2006 and 2007 some €105 million was allocated by the Government in Nursing Home Subvention.
“The Government is committed to supporting older people whether that is in their own home or in a nursing home, and this funding will help during the transition to the Fair Deal Scheme next year,” Deputy Flynn concluded.
