James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date she will approve the Health Information Quality Authority National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26799/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The present standards for nursing homes are set out in the 1993 Care and Welfare Regulations and the HSE inspects private nursing homes on the basis of these standards.

In January 2007, Minister Harney published Draft National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People. The standards were developed by a working group chaired by DoHC and included the Health Service Executive, Social Service Inspectorate and the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board. Once introduced, these standards will apply to all nursing homes, be they public, private and voluntary.

As the Health Act, 2007 provides that the enhanced inspection function will be taken over by the Health Information and Quality Authority, the draft standards were formally referred to HIQA for consultation and finalisation. The Authority established a wide-ranging Working Group to finalise the draft standards. On the 25th February, 2008 the Board of the Authority approved their draft National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People and submitted them for the approval of the Minister for Health and Children, as required under section 10(2) of the Health Act, 2007.

The draft Standards and the Regulations required to underpin them will be subject to a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) before finalisation. The RIA process has commenced and it is intended to have both the approved Standards and Regulations in place in early 2009.

Question No. 282 answered with Question No. 261.