Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the promised legislation to extend the social services inspectorate will also include national standards for all long-term residential care for elderly persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20873/05]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has any intention of introducing national standards for community and long-term residential care of older persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20872/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 129 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that it is the intention of the Department to put in place a more robust regulatory system as quickly as possible to protect vulnerable older people and to provide for the highest possible standards of care for older people in long-stay facilities.

This process has begun by firstly reviewing the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and regulations made under the Act with a view to strengthening the powers available to the regulatory authorities. Second, the social services inspectorate will be established on a statutory basis and it is intended to extend its remit to include residential facilities for older people, both public and private. The inspectorate will be independent of the Health Service Executive and the Department. Legislation to give effect to these changes will be brought before the Oireachtas later this year.

In addition, the HSE has been working on a common national approach to the inspection of nursing homes. The Irish Health Services Accreditation Board has also commenced work on examining the development of accreditation standards for residential care for older people, both public and private. In this regard it is developing a pilot programme which includes both public long-stay units and private nursing homes.