Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, following comments made in Dáil Éireann on 18 October 2006 regarding nursing home standards where it was outlined that standard inspections are now unannounced, if she will provide the source of this information; if this standard will be enforced by the Health Service Executive; and if she will confirm that the HSE will ensure that nursing home inspections are adequate and acted on appropriately. [35277/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The inspection of private nursing homes is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990. The 1990 Act provides for the registration of private nursing homes and procedures for attaching conditions to the registration and for de-registering homes. The Nursing Homes (Care and Welfare) Regulations 1993 set out the standards which private nursing homes owners must adhere to in the provision of nursing home services.

The Health Service Executive established a National Nursing Homes Steering Committee in July 2005. One of the priority tasks outlined for this committee was to standardise policy and procedures relating to older people's services in general and residential care services in particular. The HSE is now implementing a national standardised inspection process which requires that all standard inspections are to be unannounced. The adequacy and appropriateness of nursing home inspections is a matter for the HSE. I have asked the executive to reply directly to the Deputy on this issue.