Age Action (Age Action)

Lobbying Organisation Age Action

Date published 21 Sep, 2017

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017

Specific Details Reform of the Nursing Home Support Scheme to address the issue of additional fees being charged to residents by nursing homes.

Intended results Amend the operation of the Nursing Home Support Scheme to ensure that residents can opt out of additional services in which they cannot participate because of their level of dependency. Require all nursing homes participating in Fair Deal to submit their fee schedule to the NTPF for publication online. Widen the statutory responsibility of the National Treatment Purchase Fund to include the auditing and regulation of charges in long-term residential care facilities to ensure charges are consistent and not exorbitant, coordinating with HIQA to ensure nursing homes are not caught between the regulator and the funder. Amend the fees charged under the NHSS to enable nursing home residents with an assessed income of €300 or less to retain a minimum of €60.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Justin Moran

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (11-20)

Emails to TDs and senators on the Oireachtas Health Committee and to Minister Jim Daly and Ms Barrett sending them copies of our briefing paper on nursing home charges and urging them to help implement its recommendations.

Meeting (2-5)

Meetings with Minister Jim Daly and with Deputy Bernard Durkan to discuss our briefing paper on nursing home charges and urging them to help implement its recommendations.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

KathyAnn Barrett Adviser to Minister (Department of Health)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Bernard Durkan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Harty TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Billy Kelleher TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kate O'Connell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Louise O'Reilly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Colm Burke Senator (Seanad)

John Dolan Senator (Seanad)

Rónán Mullen Senator (Seanad)

Keith Swanick Senator (Seanad)

Jim Daly Minister of State (Department of Health)

Simon Harris Minister (Department of Health)