Phil Prendergast (Labour)

My question concerns the interdepartmental committee report which examined the funding of long-term residential care for older people; it relates to the fair deal scheme. Will it be a requirement for nursing homes to be approved by the Health Information and Quality Authority's independent nursing home inspectorate to come under the auspices of the fair deal scheme? I am concerned that if it is intended to put in place the charges by as early as next January, the nursing homes will not have been deemed fit to be passed because the inspection will not have taken place. We must learn lessons from Leas Cross because that situation should never recur. Nursing homes should be vetted before any charges are put in place. I would like clarification on the position in that regard.