Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil supports this Bill, which it is of utmost importance. It provides for the amendment of two Acts, namely, the Health Act 2007 and the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. The Bill gives new enforcement powers to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, including the power to issue compliance notices to enhance compliance with regulation in residential care homes and further protect residents. That is very important. The Bill is about further protecting residents.

The new amendments to the Health Act 2007 are a response to several key recommendations in the report of the Covid-19 nursing home expert panel. The report called for the enhancement and modernisation of powers and requirements within the regulatory framework governing nursing homes and the establishment of mandatory reporting to HIQA of key operational data by nursing homes to support service planning and policy development. The amendments to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act, which covers the fair deal scheme, will widen the definition of those eligible to be considered a family successor, particularly to family farm or productive business assets, to include cousins, great-nephews, great-nieces and great-grandchildren. That is really important. Lots of people have come to me about this. Under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021, contributions from farm and business assets can be capped after three years in care as long as the family successor who is appointed will continue to run the assets for a period.

Having already introduced amendments to the fair deal scheme to safeguard family farms and businesses, it became clear there was a small group of farmers with no close relatives who were, as the Minister of State said to me, unintentionally excluded from the legislation. I really welcome their inclusion. The proposed amendments to the fair deal scheme will enhance the safeguards for family farms and businesses by allowing them to apply to extended family members, including cousins, great-nephews, great-nieces and great-grandchildren, thereby protecting the viability and sustainability of those businesses into the future. This is a really important change for individuals who do not have immediate relatives. I am knocking on doors at the moment, as is the Minister of State, and these are the issues that are raised with us daily. They often come up when I am talking to farmers and business owners. This Bill will drive improvements in the quality and safety of care for the benefit of residents, their families and the sector as a whole. In addition, the new powers in regard to data collection will enable more integrated national planning across the nursing home sector and improve overall transparency for current and future residents.

The Minister of State knows I cannot finish without mentioning County Carlow. That could not happen. She was down in Carlow recently to open a new dementia café. It is absolutely excellent. In the case of all the nursing homes and different care homes she is working with, she has been 100% supportive. Her home town in County Waterford is a dementia-friendly town. Now Carlow is the same. We are all working together to achieve it and I am on the committee. The work the Minister of State has done on this is really good. I knock on her door every day and she always listens to me. I really welcome that. These issues are ones people bring to me daily. I welcome the Bill. The Minister of State is welcome to Carlow at any time. Work like this is critical as we move forward.

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