Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the Standards for Nursing Home Care recently approved by the board of the Health Information and Equality Authority will be published; when the standards will come into force; if the standards will be compulsory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9404/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Standards that the Deputy is referring to were recently submitted by the Board of the Health Information and Quality Authority for the approval of the Minister for Health and Children, as required under section 10(2) of the Health Act, 2007. The Standards and the Regulations required to underpin them will be subject to a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) before finalisation. The RIA process is expected to commence shortly and both the Standards and Regulations can be expected to be in place later this year. The approved Standards will be published. In the meantime, the Health Service Executive continues to carry out inspections of private nursing homes under the 1993 Care and Welfare Regulations.

I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the Working Group established by HIQA on the commitment, effort and time invested in drafting the Standards.