IFA: Changes To Fair Deal "Long Overdue".

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 09:57

Cabinet has signed off on amendments to the scheme.

Changes to the State's nursing home scheme which will reduce the financial burden on farmers is "long overdue".

That's according to the Irish Farmers' Association after Cabinet signed off on amendments to the Fair Deal scheme.

New legislation will introduce a three-year cap on financial contributions for farmers and small business owners, when calculating the cost for nursing home care.

Currently, they have to set aside 7.5 percent of the value of their land every year to fund a place in a nursing home, and there's no cap on contributions.

President of the IFA, Tim Cullinan, says it's brought huge stress and worry on families:

The scheme as it stands is fundamentally unfair. It is bringing huge stress and worry on farm families, placing a question over farm viability while they wait on the Government to acthttps://t.co/qUgA1eFdst
— Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) May 11, 2021

Tim Cullinan says it's a very emotive issue for farm families:

More from National News

Medically Vulnerable Council Tenants In Kildare Can Now Access Solar Scheme Amid Wider Expansion

Council officials say the Solar PV Scheme for Medically Vulnerable Customers, first launched as a pilot in 2022, has since been expanded to include all households registered under the life-support category of the Priority Services Register.
Bid To Replace APCOA With Community Wardens Met With Resistance From Kildare County Council

Council officials said the approach has already been tried in Kildare and “did not prove to be an efficient use of resources.”
Kildare Council Moves On Real-Time River Level Monitoring Amid Increased Risk Of Flooding

Council officials say the Flood Risk Management Team is already in discussions with the Office of Public Works about installing gauges on the River Liffey in both towns.
Athy Nursing Unit At Tender Stage As Naas Mental Health Unit Enters Design Phase Under €11.3m Plan

The single largest allocation locally is €5.614 million for Phase 1 of the Community Nursing Unit development at St Vincent’s Hospital in Athy, which has now reached tender stage.
Garda Issue Appeal For Man Missing From Sallins Since February 12th

He's described as being around six feet in height, of a medium build with brown hair and blue eyes.
Health Minister Presses BAM Over April Deadline At Children’s Hospital

Audio

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill wrote to BAM recently to warn against any "slippage" on the building completion date of April 30th.
Text Messages Reveal Mounting Anger As Spotlight Remains On Celbridge Primary School Amid Safety Fears

Audio

Documents completed last year and seen by Kfm News point to significant deterioration in the school’s temporary modular building, which has been in place since 2008.
Education Minister "Not Happy" With How Schools Were Told They Would Be Losing SNAs

Audio

Speaking on the way in to Cabinet, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton says she is not happy with how schools were told they would be losing SNAs next year.