Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I expected to have the Minister for Health here in view of recent discussions we had on the Order of Business and elsewhere. However, I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, for being prepared to respond to these debates. I call Deputy Eamonn Maloney.

Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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This is about the transformation that is taking place in nursing homes in Ireland. We have quite a few and most of them are good. Unfortunately, however, as we discovered from the excellent RTE programme, some of them are not so good, in terms of regulations, the standard of care and so forth. This has received coverage both outside and inside this House.

All Members, as legislators and people who care about these issues, want the best possible standards. We certainly want regulation because lack of regulation led to some of the problems we have discussed here in the past. The body that represents the nursing homes in Ireland, Nursing Homes Ireland, NHI, has made a very simple request, and I have no difficulty with it in principle. I support the efforts the Department and the Minister and Ministers of State have made through their work with the HSE and the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, to introduce regulations. I strongly support that. However, Nursing Homes Ireland has said that the timeframe is rather limited for some of the changes in these homes, especially the physical changes, and it is asking for a forum where all interested parties can discuss these matters. That is the request.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Taking 2012 as the base year, a budget of almost €1 billion in financial support was provided to more than 22,000 people in nursing homes.

For 2013 the HSE's national service plan sets a target of 22,700 people to be in receipt of financial support towards the cost of long-term nursing home care by the end of 2013.

It is quite clear that nursing homes are an important resource in the range of care services available to older people and my Department recognises the valuable contribution the private nursing homes sector makes. I acknowledge that the sector plays a key role in meeting the long-term residential care needs of a great many older people. It is with this in mind that the sector is already an important participant in the ongoing consultation with all stakeholders and the public in general. This is already a standard feature of the Department's approach across policy areas, including services for older people. For example, during 2012 extensive public consultation was carried out as part of the development of the national dementia strategy.

When the nursing homes support scheme commenced in October 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The reason for allowing this period to elapse is to ensure trends and statistics will be available in order to inform the work done. The terms of reference for the review of the scheme include an examination of the overall cost of long-term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating or setting prices. There has been extensive public consultation on this process and a summary report on the submissions received is available on the Department's website. Work will continue on the review in the coming months with a view to completion by the end of this year or early next year.

The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and his colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Alex White, together with departmental officials, regularly meet stakeholders to discuss policies, services and developments. Officials recently met Nursing Homes Ireland, from which they are always happy to receive suggestions and other inputs. Officials have recently met representatives of the private home care providers.

Deputy Eamonn Maloney's main request was for reform in order that people's views might be properly appreciated and assessed. If what I have outlined is the case, as I presume it is, that has happened. If an additional working group needs to be established before the end of this year or early next year, I presume the Minister will have no difficulty in that regard, particularly given that there has been much discussion thus far. I will ensure he is aware of the Deputy's request and respond specifically to him on the net issue.

Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The dialogue between the Department and the nursing homes' representatives has been very useful. I acknowledge this because they have done so. The traditional nursing home sector has existed pretty much without regulation for too long. Who is to blame is a separate issue, but we all turned away at various times when we should have been more vigilant. Unfortunately, it was sometimes the media that took the lead, not politicians. The issue I raise pertains to a classic case in that regard. We were essentially led into this and are being requested to do something that should have been done years ago. As I stated and as others stated across parties, we need to regulate the sector.

I will not address all facets of the debate as it would take too long to do so. I am delighted to hear the Minister is open to continuing the discussions. That in itself is good, but we should have an open mind in order that all stakeholders, including those who work in nursing homes, will have an input. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State passed this matter on to the Minister.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Members of Nursing Homes Ireland, those who work within the sector and, crucially, those in receipt of services desire reform. We must find a forum for older persons who use the service in order that their views may be taken on board in developing standard replies. The Minister is anxious to do this.

Regulation is important. If we have learned anything from the extensive revelations in regard to some aspects of Irish life, it is the importance of keeping a very close eye on exactly what is occurring. It is the same in this sector as in others. The Minister is open to the proposal. I will make sure that he is aware of the net issue the Deputy is raising.