Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising those points. I read the HIQA report carefully. I understand the Deputy's alarm, but my reading of the document in terms of the level of compliance is different. I am more than happy to discuss that with him after this debate. The report gave a green grade, which denotes full compliance, to 90% plus of nursing homes in respect of the various governance issues. It identified approximately 5%or 6% of homes that needed extra work. We must ensure that we engage with those nursing homes that were graded as yellow or red - not fully in compliance or not in compliance at all - quickly so that we can understand what they need to get up to speed and what HIQA needs to help them do that.

The HIQA report raised a serious issue for the Government and the House, namely, the lack of a regulatory framework for nursing homes. This was one of the main red flags that HIQA raised in its report and the Government needs to work on it. I am certainly working on it. It will be a matter for the House to debate and, I imagine, pass primary legislation on.

I take the Deputy's point. I wrote to HIQA last week to ask that the same review and a thematic review be done in respect of the nursing homes that were not included in this one. The nursing homes included in the HIQA report are those that have not had Covid cases in them. Obviously, the same assessment needs to be done of the other half, which are the ones that have had Covid cases in them.

The Deputy will understand that I cannot comment on individual nursing homes, but I am happy to look into the matter he raised. I was recently made aware of two residential centres in Dublin that, unfortunately, have notified the HSE that they are no longer in a position to continue operating. I am acutely aware of the value of residential care and the HSE is in the process of engaging with these services to ensure continuity of care for their residents.

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