Today (Saturday) is the closing date for the consultation period on controversial proposals to restrict access to social care and carer support in the Isle of Man.

The draft Social Services Bill 2009 was released by the DHSS for consultation in August and the department has been keen to receive comments on the move.

If the proposed legislation was introduced, anyone wishing to use the Island's social care and carer support services would need to have been a resident for the previous five years.

The residency requirement would apply to support for physical or learning disabilities, mental health problems and elderly people with physical, mental health or social care problems.

People who hadn't lived on the Island for five years would only receive support if they paid the full cost of the service, or if the department considered a person to be in grave need and had no reasonable means of obtaining it other than from the department.

Health Minister Eddie Teare says the changes would bring social care services into line with other government support, and it's not just a cost cutting exercise.