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Speaking as part of Budget 2018 announcements this Tuesday, Minister Daly said funding for the so-called Fair Deal Scheme would increase by €9.7m next year.
The additional resources will ensure that waiting lists do not increase as a result of growing applicant numbers and will “support a new initiative for farm assets and small businesses as well,” the minister added.
Some of the increased budget may go towards introducing a three-year cap on charges applicable to the value of farms owned by nursing home residents. Minister Daly made this proposal in recent meetings with farm organisations, but An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned that it would take months to pass the required legislative changes.
The boost to Fair Deal under Budget 2018 is smaller than last year, when the scheme received an additional €18.5m. However, Minister Daly also announced increased allocations for home-care packages and home-help hours, which could help to reduce the demand for full-time care.
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