Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings her Department has held with the social services inspectorate since 2001, specifically in relation to the extension of the SSI to cover nursing home inspections; the progress to date on those meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20871/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, the Government has decided to establish the social services inspectorate on a statutory basis and legislation to give effect to this will be published later on this year. The inspectorate will be charged with the inspection of both public and private nursing homes and will be responsible for reporting on standards of care in such homes. It is planned to extend the brief of the inspectorate to include residential services for older people and people with a disability.

Officials of the Department had a preliminary meeting with the social services inspectorate following the publication of the O'Shea report on the nursing home subvention scheme and having regard to the commitment in the national health strategy to extend the inspectorate's remit to cover long-stay care for older people.