Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on improving the inspection regimes for all residential nursing homes for the elderly in all health regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28909/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE has advised that it is aware of the different practices around the country in the past in relation to the inspection of residential homes for older people and is committed to implementing a coordinated standardised approach. The HSE has further advised that it has agreed a national standardised inspection process, to include unannounced inspections, which will be implemented by all inspection teams throughout the country by the end of October 2005.

Moving forward, it is the intention of my Department to put in place a more robust regulatory system as quickly as possible to protect vulnerable older people in long-stay facilities. The process has begun to review the current system with a view to strengthening the powers available to those involved in inspecting facilities and to extend a strengthened inspection system to public facilities. It is intended that the Health Bill 2005 will establish both the HIQA and the SSI on a statutory basis and will contain provisions to underpin a more robust inspectorial system.