‘It says something about a society that penalises our old and infirm whilst leaving criminals sitting in our jails at great cost to society, can have fortunes sitting in bank accounts to allow them to resume their lavish lifestyle.’ Fianna Fáil Councillor John Paul Feeley has condemned proposals to further increase the contribution from those in need of long-term nursing care as a a further and unjust tax on vulnerable people. The percentage annual contribution of 7.5% which is only caped for three years on the family home and continues on all other assets thereafter may increase under an recent review published by Minister Varadkar and the HSE. ‘It is more than reasonable for people to make a contribution to the cost of long-term care but this huge tax on the assets of the persons is unfair and unreasonable. In particular it sees an effective mortgage placed on family farms and businesses which is not acceptable. When commenced the Fair Deal Scheme had an annual levy of 5% together with 80% of the weekly income, that is now gone to 7.5% and the report published suggests figures in the region of 10% or more. There have been huge delays in the allocation of the Fair Deal Nursing Scheme allocations with the waiting time extending to over 18 weeks just before Christmas of last year leading to very long waiting times in Emergency Departments and the cancelation of elective surgery thus exacerbating waiting lists generally. ‘We need to look again at the Fair Deal Nursing Scheme. This weekend a man walked out of prison with € 1.5 million in his bank account. He had to make no contribution to the cost of his keep in prison, cost of approximately € 65,000 per annum, had he been in longterm nursing care he would have had to pay 80% of his weekly income and up to 7.5% of his capital per annum towards the cost of care. It says something about a society that penalises our old and infirm whilst leaving criminals sitting in our jails at great cost to society, can have fortunes sitting in bank accounts to allow them to resume their lavish lifestyle. ENDS
John Paul Feeley
Fianna Fáil Member of Cavan County Council
