James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way, in relation to the NTPF intention to negotiate the cost of private beds on behalf of the Health Service Executive, she expects the NTPF to achieve this in the absence of nursing home care standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25726/07]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, private nursing homes are registered in accordance with the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990 and are subject to inspection on the basis of the standards set out in the Care and Welfare Regulations 1993. The NTPF will negotiate with registered private nursing homes on this basis.

However, the Deputy will be aware that the Health Act 2007 provides for the registration and inspection of all nursing homes — public, private and voluntary. As the Act provides that the enhanced inspection function will be taken over by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), draft standards (prepared by a Working Group chaired by the Department of Health and Children) were formally referred to Health Information and Quality Authority for consultation and finalisation. The Authority established a wide-ranging Working Group to finalise the draft standards. The group held its first meeting on 30th January and have met on a regular basis since.

On 8 August, 2007 the Authority published their draft for public consultation prior to finalising the standards. Members of the public, service users, their families, service providers and all those with an interest in residential care for older people were invited to submit their views on the draft before Monday 17 September 2007.

The results of the public consultation were discussed at the most recent meeting of the HIQA Working Group on Friday 19th October. The final report of the Consultation has now been sent to HIQA and will be distributed to the Group in the coming days. It is proposed to hold 2 further meetings of the Working Group to finalise the standards. The next step in the process will involve the standards being referred to the Minister for approval. Following this, Regulations will be drafted to give statutory underpinning to the Standards. In the interim, the HSE will continue to inspect private nursing homes using the 1993 Care and Welfare Regulations.

The ongoing work regarding the introduction of the new nursing home standards under the 2007 Act does not impact in any way on the NTPF negotiations surrounding the introduction of the new Nursing Home Support Scheme — A Fair Deal.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number, in relation to the NTPF intention to negotiate the cost of private beds on behalf of the Health Service Executive, of these beds that will be standard beds; the number that will be medium and high dependency beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25727/07]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the proposed new Nursing Home Support Scheme — A Fair Deal — the NTPF will negotiate prices for long-term residential care with private providers. The Fair Deal scheme is a voluntary one. In order to qualify for State support under the scheme, a person must be assessed by the HSE as requiring long-term residential care and then avail of such care in a nursing home registered with the HSE and where a price has been negotiated and agreed with the NTPF. This price will inform the maximum level of State support payable on behalf of a person who qualifies under the scheme.