Home care and fair deal scheme
Deputy O'Keeffe asked about a promised amendment to let older people be cared for at home under fair deal-type criteria. The Minister of State clarified that a separate statutory home help scheme is being developed and that fair deal itself will continue unchanged.
The Minister is a longstanding Member and knows he has to avoid attracting interruptions.
I call Deputy O'Keeffe who I know will abide by the rules.
Comment on this
An amendment to the nursing homes support scheme will allow the elderly to be cared for at home as long as they meet the fair deal criteria and costs are not excessive. In budget 2018 there was a promise of action in this area. What is the up to date story?
Comment on this
Is the Deputy querying the fair deal scheme or the home help scheme?
Comment on this
I referred to an extension of the fair deal scheme.
Comment on this
That is not happening. A statutory home help scheme is being put in place. Consultation has concluded on that and a report is due in the next week or two. It is separate to the fair deal scheme, which will continue to be implemented as it is. We will have a separate scheme to put home help on a similar statutory footing as the fair deal scheme.
Comment on this
It will be similar to the fair deal scheme but it will not be connected to the fair deal scheme, which is a stand-alone scheme.