Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 813: To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds available in County Louth at present; the number that are public beds; the number that are private; and if he will provide the comparable numbers for each year since 2007 in tabular form. [35166/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Department of Health carries out a survey of long-stay units each year. Each long-stay unit (public, private and voluntary) is sent a questionnaire and the responses are collated by the Department. The aim of the survey is to provide statistics on the number of beds available for long-term care, how these beds are used and the types of residents who occupy these beds. The results of the surveys are used to prepare the Long-Stay Activity Statistics Reports which are published on the Department's website.

The Long-Stay Activity Statistics for 2010 (the most recent year available) and for previous years can be accessed at www.doh.ie. Each report provides a breakdown of the number of private and public beds in each County on a unit by unit basis. The Deputy should be mindful that these are self reported survey results. However the response rates for Dublin North East for the 4 years range between 85.9% and 95.6%.

The Deputy will be aware that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory body responsible for the registration of all designated centres for older people. Full details of all currently registered nursing homes, including the maximum number of residents who can be accommodated can be found on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie.