The Minister of State for Older People, Máire Hoctor, today repeated that the Fair Deal scheme will go ahead in 2009, subject to Oireachtas approval.
“The Fair Deal was approved as Government policy in December 2006. It was reaffirmed in the Programme for Government. It remains Government policy," she said.
"All the preparations are being made to ensure it is put on the most robust legal footing and will proceed in 2009, once enacted by the Oireachtas."
Ms Hocter added that Minister Mary Harney will be bringing the draft legislation to Government "as soon as possible" to allow for publication of the Bill in advance of debate in the Oireachtas.”
The Minister of State said there would be a conferral with the social partners, under Towards 2016, as soon as the Bill is published.
The Department of Health will provide nearly a third of the €440 million in cutbacks recently ordered by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan for 2008.
The department said it expects to make €144 million in savings this year, with some €85 million derived from a deferral of expenditure under the Fair Deal nursing home scheme until 2009.