The main representative body for nursing home owners, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), today warned that waiting lists could develop if the Government's Fair Deal scheme is not sufficiently funded.
Under the scheme, nursing home residents can defer the cost of their care until after their death, when up to 15 per cent of the value of their home will be collected to pay for the cost of their care.
Speaking at NHI’s annual conference, chief executive Tadgh Daly said it is "imperative that this scheme is resourced, operated efficiently and as speedily as possible, so residents, their families and nursing home operators maximise the potential of a visionary change”.
Mr Daly also warned of the creation of layers of bureaucracy in the advancement of the new scheme and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection regime.