James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of nursing home teams in 2006 and to date in 2007. [18161/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Service Executive has advised my Department that the principal expertise involved in inspections is that of medical, nursing and environmental health professionals. Staff are currently employed on both a full time and part time basis and the number of teams for both 2006 and to date in 2007 can be summarised as follows:

In HSE West, there are 6 teams comprising of 6 Medical Officers, 6 Nursing Staff, 9 Environmental Health Officers (WTE) and 2 Clerical Officers undertaking inspections in Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary, Donegal, Roscommon, Mayo Galway and Sligo/Leitrim.

In HSE South, there are 9 teams comprising of 9 Medical Officers, 9 Nursing Staff and 9 Environmental Health Officers undertaking inspections in Cork -South Lee, North Lee, West, and North, Carlow / Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Kerry.

In HSE Dublin North East there is one centralised team covering Dublin North East, Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan. The team comprises of 2 Medical Officers, 7 fulltime and 2 part time Nursing Staff and an Environmental Health Officer as required.

In HSE Dublin Mid Leinster there are 9 teams comprising of 10 Medical Officers, 19 Nursing Staff, 7 Environmental Health Officers and 10 Therapists undertaking inspections in Dublin South City, Dublin South West, Dublin South East, Dublin West, Dublin South/Dun Laoghaire, Wicklow, Kildare/West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath.

Donegal, Limerick and Dublin North East teams work full time on the inspection process. The remaining teams consist of staff working on inspections part time.

Forty additional posts have been approved since the beginning of 2007 and the majority of these posts have now been put in place. The approach in the implementation of these new posts is being tailored to meet the needs of each area.