Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Kenny could at least get his facts right as the report was launched by the organisation. I said yesterday that the conditions in Leas Cross Nursing Home are unacceptable and I have said it again today. The agreement reached yesterday between the Health Service Executive and the nursing home to bring about much needed improvement will be paid for by the nursing home and not the State. The HSE has dictated what needs to be done and what is being done. I said the governance of the nursing home will also be significantly changed. A clinical governance steering committee, with representatives of residents, residents' families and an independent expert, will be established. I said the Minister for State at the Department for Health and Children met the HSE yesterday to discuss the matter and will meet it again in a month to ensure that what was agreed at yesterday's meeting will be implemented. I said inspections had taken place and that the North Eastern Health Board was visiting this home. Inspections were carried out both with and without notice. It believed in good faith that the management of Leas Cross was carrying out the measures the inspectors had highlighted. They have now discovered the management did not undertake these measures and feel disappointed and let down.

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