Nursing home support scheme threatens farm holdings

No Fair Deal for farmers

Fine Gael called on the  Government to amend the Fair Deal nursing home scheme after it emerged that entire farm holdings could be confiscated by the State as payment for nursing home care.This is a monumental oversight by the Government and it must be amended immediately. This scheme, which places a 5% charge over a maximum three  year period on the family home, has no limitation clause concerning what other assets can be absorbed by the State. So an asset like a family farm can be levied at 5% per year for as long as a person remains in private nursing home care. Over time this could lead to the value of an entire farm holding being owed to the State. This anomaly will cause major concerns for elderly farmers who may have considered using the ‘Fair Deal’ package as a way to access nursing home  care, as well as sufferers of debilitating illnesses who may be confined to nursing homes at a young age.

The Minister for Agriculture must act now and ensure that farmers are  not  unfairly  exposed  to what  is clearly a drafting error on the Government’s behalf.