Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Daly should be aware that we have just recently employed an additional 48 HIQA inspectors. At a time when we are being asked to dramatically reduce the numbers of staff employed by the State, that is significant. We are prioritising areas where we need additional staff on the ground. Where there is a concern about a care institution, HIQA returns to that institution repeatedly. It is not as if the announced visit is a once-off event and nothing else happens. If there are concerns then those concerns are addressed by continuous, regular visits. It is very difficult to hide something that is wrong if an inspector is constantly at the door. That is what we need. I make no apologies for that happening. The majority of people who deliver care in this country to our older people do an extraordinary job. We hear that from families and the older people themselves. However, that does not mean that we should not be vigilant.