Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Ms Ní Sheaghdha's point. That is why I raise this research which is, I understand, the first academic research concentrating on the issue. What it found is that in larger care homes - I am not speaking about acute hospitals - the likelihood of infection is 20 times higher than in smaller care homes. As such, my question for Ms Ní Sheaghdha is one that concerns me a great deal. It relates to the regulations for care homes and qualified or professional nurses. There is no relationship between the number of dependent or high-dependency residents and the need for professionally qualified nursing staff. That is a serious concern to me. It is unacceptable that there would not be an appropriate and proportionate ratio of high-dependency residents to qualified nursing staff and other qualified persons as well. Does Ms Ní Sheaghdha have a view on that?