Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the draft standards for nursing home care, approved by the Health Information and Quality Authority in March 2008, will be approved by her; when the standards will come into force; if the standards will be compulsory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6678/09]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when it is expected that the Health Information and Quality Authority national standards for nursing homes and older elder care units will be published; the timeframe which will be given for homes to come up to the standards; if the same timeframe will apply for public and private facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6552/09]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 75 together.

My colleague the Minister for Health and Children has, this week, approved the national standards for all residential care settings for older people under section 10(2) of the Health Act, 2007. The approval has been conveyed to the Health Information and Quality Authority and the Standards will be formally published and launched shortly. Deputies will be aware that under the 2007 Act statutory responsibility is given to the Chief Inspector of Social Services for inspecting and registering all residential centres for older people, including private nursing homes. It is intended to have the relevant parts of the Act commenced on 1 July, 2009 to allow the Chief Inspector inspect all centres against the regulations governing these centres together with the standards set by HIQA.

Standard 25 addresses the Physical Environment for all types of residential centres. Distinction is made in the criteria between existing facilities and new builds. These criteria provide a six year window for existing builds, whether public, private or voluntary to meet certain infrastructural deficits, for example with regard to room sizes, the number of residents per room and usable floor space. While there is some discretion with the Chief Inspector to extend this timeframe this can only occur where the provider and the Chief Inspector agree a written, explicit, costed plan with timescales to address these deficits.