Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

While there will be some new staff, we anticipate that the vast majority will be transferred over from the HSE. It would not make sense to let people go from the HSE and take on new staff. Therefore, the vast majority of the inspectorate will be transferred directly over, with the possibility of some new staff also being hired.

On the issue of the regularity or frequency of inspections, we do not want to be too prescriptive. As the Deputy is aware, private nursing home inspections take place twice a year, unannounced, which is a good guideline but we have not made a definitive decision on the matter as of yet.

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