Cabinet has approved changes to the Fair Deal nursing home scheme that will put a three-year cap on contributions from farm families and small business owners for the care of their elderly loved ones.

Up to this point, the annual 7.5% charge based on the value of a farm for a farmer in full-time care means the family farm would be lost to the next generation after 14 years, as it would drain the value of the farm to pay for the care of a family member in a nursing home.

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People and Fianna Fáil TD for Waterford, Mary Butler, said that she was delighted to see the changes approved.

The legislation will now have to pass through the Dáil and the Seanad, before becoming official.

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Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill was one of the deputies to congratulate Minister Butler for getting it to this stage and added his hopes for the change it would make to the lives of farm families.

“By introducing a three year cap on financial contributions based on farm or business assets, these legislative amendments will finally make the Fair Deal fairer and more accessible to farming families and small business owners”, Cahill said.