Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for attending today. It is really appreciated. It is critical we get answers to what has happened in the Emeis nursing homes, in Beneavin nursing home and in The Residence, that was exposed by “RTÉ Investigates”.

Rather than rehash the emotional horror many felt on watching what was, in the words of one of the specialists in elderly care, “elder abuse”, with which analysis I do not believe anyone has disagreed, we should ask how we can put this right and reflect on what has happened and been exposed so as to improve things. I have a series of questions. Rather than listening to myself speak, I would prefer to get some answers, if I could. Is the regulatory framework for nursing homes adequate? How can it be strengthened? Is there overreliance on the private provision of nursing home care, on which we have become dependent, and on having an ever-increasing congregation of elderly people in private nursing home facilities, which I am told is the only way to make them viable? Is there adequate funding going into the nursing homes to provide adequate care? Has HIQA a role regarding staffing levels?

One of the main findings in the interim report is that there are really serious concerns not only about the care of patients but also about the facilities in which the care was being provided. In The Residence, there were something like 40 abuse complaints and there was an issue with fire regulations and control. Most other buildings in the country would be closed down by a fire officer if there were a non-compliance rate with fire regulations of 100%, as was the case in The Residence. In Beneavin, there were 198 complaints of elder abuse between 2022 in 2024. There was non-compliance with the rights of residents in respect of personal care, record-keeping, premises and infection control. The list goes on. What does it take to close down a nursing home? Has HIQA any powers to impose financial penalties on corporations that feel they are unencumbered by HIQA in providing the services they provide? It does not look like their behaviour changed until they were exposed by “RTÉ Investigates”.