Ms Carol Grogan:

I share the Cathaoirleach's concerns about the financial issues he raised. If any provider holds money belonging to a resident, then that money should be held in a separate account from that of the company accounts to safeguard the money that belongs to residents and ensures the money is available to the residents should they need it. Additionally, providers should have arrangements in place to provide residents with statements of the accounts and any invoices for moneys paid on behalf of the resident.

Regarding the reports identified by the Cathaoirleach, I have serious concerns about the management of the finances of residents by the provider. This provider is the individual provider of ten homes. Each of the ten homes is an individual legal entity and under the Act I must deal with them as separate legal entities.

I took the unusual step of using section 72 to request our CEO, Ms Fitzgerald, to bring in the expertise of a forensic accountant to inspect with me some of those centres so that I could get a full understanding of the financial practices concerning the accounts of residents. That process is ongoing and I will review their recommendations in terms of the next steps to take. I am in escalated regulatory action in relation to these centres. I have cancelled one of them. Another one is in the process and the provider can appeal the decision I have given to the District Court, which is in place at the moment. I am very concerned about this provider and taking regulatory action. Unfortunately, I met this provider, as has my deputy chief inspector, on a number of occasions. I took the unusual step of instructing him to put safeguards in place. The plans he gave back he did not follow through on and we have found that in our subsequent inspections. He had advised he was bringing in an accounting firm to ensure residents' finances were safeguarded. He did not follow through on that, which is why I am now in an escalated enforcement action with this provider. I am very conscious of the impact that has on the wider health and social care system. If you close between 30 and 60 or more beds in nursing homes, that has quite a significant impact on the rest of the health and social care services. I do take that into account but my first priority is to keep residents safe.