Anger over delays to Fair Deal scheme changes
WORK on legislation that would reduce Fair Deal nursing home costs for farm families has been postponed till the autumn.
The move confirmed by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in recent days has been described as ‘incredibly disappointing’ by farmer representatives, with the financial burden of nursing home care a huge concern for many farm families.
Despite underlining the importance of the changes for the farming community, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that legislation would not be dealt with this month and will fall to the autumn session.
“I have, however, asked the ministers to prioritise this matter and it is in the Programme for Government. People have been waiting for some time. There have been some issues with some of the stakeholders regarding this matter, which perhaps have delayed its progress, but I am determined that we will get this legislation published and into the House,” he said.
Under legislation approved by the Government in June 2019, it was proposed to extend the three-year cap provision to farmers and business owners.
The current system sees farm families and small business owners required to set aside 7.5pc of the value of their land annually to fund a place in a nursing home.
The proposed policy change to the Nursing Homes
Support Scheme would cap contributions based on farm and business assets at three years, where a family successor commits to working the productive asset.
Commenting on the proposal to postpone the Fair Deal legislation further, the chair of ICMSA’s farm business committee, Shane O’Loughlin, described the decision as “incredibly disappointing” and one that did not send out a good signal to farmers at this very difficult time.
“This legislation has been ready to come through the Dáil since 2019, and to further postpone it to next autumn feels like this legislation is ‘kicked down the road’ indefinitely,” said Mr O’Loughlin.
“There are farm families who are losing significantly while this legislation is not enacted, and every year is costing a farm family 7.5pc of the value of their farm — a massive amount that could be the difference in a farm’s future viability.”