Fair Deal farm cap
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said the Fair Deal Bill was being delayed and still left farm families exposed to major costs. Deputy Brassil added that many homes were vacant because owners were in nursing homes, and Minister of State Daly said the Bill would cap charges at 22.5% and the review was ongoing.
I believe the Bill progressing through the Dáil to cap contributions that farmers and small businesses must make to the fair deal scheme is being delayed because of legal issues. Many farmers have concerns that this Bill will not help them much because 100% of the value of their farms will still be assessed, which means 22.5% of the value of the family home can be used to pay for the person's care.
Comment on this
This will impose a severe difficulty for the young farmer who is trying to take over the farm.
Comment on this
On the same issue, I raised prior to the budget the fact that 14,000 homes are currently vacant because their owners are in nursing homes availing of the fair deal scheme. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Daly, gave an undertaking that he would review this with a view to trying to get some percentage of those properties into circulation to help deal with the housing and homeless crisis. Has he made any progress in that regard?
Comment on this
We hope to publish the heads of the Bill before year end. On the Deputy's point that it will not help farmers, I argue it will if it is capped at 22.5%. The present situation is up to 100% of the farm can be taken under the fair deal scheme. This would apply a cap at 22.5% so it would be far superior to the current arrangement. The review is still continuing. I hope by year end to have some progress on it. I note the Deputy's interest and I will keep him updated.