James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am very pleased that HIQA will be doing this and there will be some independence in the inspection of public nursing homes. The major deficit to date is that the HSE has been inspecting itself, which is neither tolerable nor sustainable.

Have the necessary staff been appointed and trained up to begin inspections, since we must assume that they must be in a position to start by the first quarter of 2009? Have funds been allocated accordingly?

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