The secretary general of the Department of Health has invited farmer representatives to a meeting to discuss the Fair Deal scheme, IFA family chair Maura Canning told the Irish Farmers Journal.

The exact date and agenda of the meeting remain to be confirmed, but this is the first sign of movement on proposed changes to the nursing home support scheme since last September.

“I’m sure there are budgetary issues and it may be holding it up, but it has been too long and we’re looking for answers,” Canning said.

IFA proposals to reform the scheme include a discount on farm assets taken into account for means testing.

Penniless

The case of an 81-year-old Co Kerry farmer illustrates the importance of this point to many farming families. A bachelor with a house and 30ac of land to his name, he is liable to contribute €2,152/month to his care costs.

This comes from his pension and farm, which is now lying idle, according to his neighbour and close friend who contacted the Irish Farmers Journal. The farmer is availing of the loan option, which parks most of the costs into debt to be repaid from his estate after his death. “This man is going to end up penniless,” the neighbour said. “And he doesn’t know what is happening.”

Support offices to close

Separately, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee told the Dáil last week that the HSE would close 12 of the 17 nursing home support offices administering the scheme this year, while continuing to communicate with the public through other HSE staff in existing local offices.

The rationalisation of offices was included in the 2015 review report of the Fair Deal scheme, as was the reform of the inclusion of farm assets in means testing.