Independent TD Mattie McGrath has said he welcomes news that reforms to the Fair Deal nursing home support scheme will finally come before Cabinet on Tuesday. Deputy McGrath was speaking after reports also emerged that aspects of the reform proposals will include retrospective measures that will have a direct financial impact on struggling families:
“I and my colleagues in the Rural Independent Group have been calling for these reforms to be introduced since we secured unanimous Dáil support of our Motion on this matter in 2017.
After significant delays and fears that the reforms would never see the light of day, I want to welcome this news as a positive indication that we are finally moving forward.
What the government and the Minister for Older People must now do, is immediately prioritise the ensuing legislation that will be needed to give effect to the reforms.
On that he can be assured that once the detail is acceptable, we will support him.
I think the news on the retrospective element is to be especially welcomed. From what I have seen it now appears that if a resident has been living in a nursing home for one year, their family will only have to pay the 7.5pc for another two years. Or if a resident is in a nursing home for more than three years, those 7.5pc payments will cease immediately.
I do have remaining concerns around the broader issue of massive discrepancies in fees as they relate to HSE and Private Nursing Homes. That is also a matter is not going anywhere and which we need urgent and immediate action on,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
