David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in 2005 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. [35382/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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. The Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993 made under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 set out the standards to which private nursing homes must adhere. The Health Service Executive currently carries out inspections in private nursing homes. In the context of the Health Bill 2005, 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 also intended that the Bill will provide for the setting and monitoring of standards for residential facilities for older people. To this end, the Department has commenced a review of the Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993, and will work in conjunction with the HSE, the SSI and other relevant bodies, with the intention of developing a new set of standards that would apply to all residential services for older people.

In response to the progress to date on improving the inspection regime in 2005 for all residential nursing homes for the elderly in the HSE areas, the Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the Health Service Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.