Madam, - In the joint statement on the Government's "Fair Deal" scheme for long-term nursing home care for older people that was published recently by bodies concerned with ageing issues, a final paragraph drew attention to the Government's commitment to introduce on January 1st relief for people cared for in private nursing homes.
While postponement until the New Year of the legislation in respect of payment for public nursing home care was sought in that statement, and was subsequently conceded by the Government, it was also pointed out that people cared for in private nursing homes had been promised financial relief from January 1st, and that such people will have made financial provisions based on that commitment. This point did not appear in your report of the joint statement.
It would be important that the Government now confirm that this relief, upon which those concerned have been encouraged to rely since its announcement by the Government earlier this year, will in fact be available from January 1st - or, if this is technically impossible, that they be reassured that this relief when provided will be made retrospective to that date. - Yours, etc,
GARRET FITZGERALD, Director, Age Action, Dublin 6.