asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the regulations under section 54 of the Health Act, 1970, to abolish the six weeks limit on payment of capitation grants for patients in private nursing homes as the health boards have not the accommodation to meet the present requirements.

The relevant regulations do not limit the payment of subventions for eligible persons in approved nursing homes to a period of six weeks and health boards may continue payments after that time.

What regulation prevents payment after six weeks?

The Health Act, 1953, says that where institutional services were available in a nursing home or a maternity home the payment should be limited to a period of six weeks in the case of a nursing home or two weeks in the case of a maternity home unless the health authority otherwise determined. This means that the health authority have permission to extend the payment of the subvention after six weeks. It is true that one or two health boards do not exercise this option and confine the payment to six weeks.

Is it up to the health board to make the extension?

Yes, including the Deputy's own health board.