Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of nursing homes that have been inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority since the commencement of inspection in July 2009 and the number of such homes that the inspector closed down. [43102/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act, 2007 statutory responsibility is given to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, part of the Health Information and Quality Authority for inspecting and registering categories of designated centres, including nursing homes for older people.

Since the commencement of the new regulatory regime for residential care services for Older People on 1 July 2009, the Authority has inspected all designated centres and in this time has cancelled one registration. In this regard Glenbervie Nursing Home had its registration cancelled by the District Court on the application of the Chief Inspector. The service provider decided not to contest the decision and the order was confirmed as final and permanent pursuant to Section 61 (3) (a) of the Act on 23 April 2010. In addition, pursuant to Sections 59 and 60 of the Health Act 2007, an Interim Order was made by the District Court in Portlaoise on 28 October 2010 cancelling the registration of a designated centre in Co. Offaly under Part 8 of the Health Act, 2007. This matter remains before the Courts.

In addition, under Section 66 of the Act the registered provider must notify the Chief Inspector before closing a designated centre. Twelve centres have notified the Chief Inspector of their intention to close.