Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is very welcome news. In speaking about supportive care homes the Minister of State used the word "proportionality". That is exactly what they are looking for. They want to work in partnership with HIQA and the HSE to ensure this. It is really significant and will be of huge comfort to many older people in public nursing homes and their families. There was a cloud hanging over them in not being compliant with HIQA requirements. It is welcome that the Minister of State has stated €300 million will be made available to ensure all public nursing homes will be compliant. There has been an ongoing campaign by many people in Waterford to ensure St. Patrick's Hospital will continue to look after older people who need that level of care. It will be quality compliant, which is what older citizens deserve. To hear that money is being made available lifts a huge burden from the residents in these public nursing homes and their families. I eagerly await publication of the HSE's plans as to how it will use the €300 million that has been made available.

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