Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 349 and 504 of 10 May 2011, regarding the proposed new Community Hospital in Kenmare, County Kerry and in view of the response from the Health Service Executive in relation to same in which they state the scale, layout and construction of the existing accommodation in Kenmare are not sufficient to provide accommodation to Health Information and Quality Authority standards, if he will now give a commitment to include the proposed Community Hospital for Kenmare in the 2011 capital plan and if he will sign off on same [13988/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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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 (HIQA), for the independent inspection and registration of certain categories of designated centres. This includes residential care settings for older people. Since 1 July 2009 all nursing homes, public and private, are registered under the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009, as amended, by the Chief Inspector. All nursing homes (public and private) are inspected under the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009, as amended, and must meet the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.

The Chief Inspector has the power to refuse to register, attach conditions to a registration or cancel the registration of a designated centre in the event of non-compliance with the regulations or the standards.

There are separate criteria for designated centres which were in operation when the new regime commenced on 1 July 2009 and for new centres that have opened since that date. Designated centres which were in operation at the commencement of the new regime have up to six years from that date to meet the criteria for new centres. This would include centres such as Kenmare.

Any capital development such as the proposed Community Nursing Unit at Kenmare, Co Kerry must be considered in the context of the overall HSE Capital Plan. This is a multi-annual programme which is developed over a rolling five year period. In drawing up its capital programme for the current 2011-2015 period the HSE is required to prioritise capital infrastructure projects within the overall capital funding allocation. Given the level of capital commitments already in place, there is limited funding available for new contracts before 2014. The HSE has submitted its draft Capital Plan for the multi-annual period 2011 - 2015. This draft plan is under consideration and requires the approval of the Minister for Health and Children with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Details of the plan will be published by the HSE following its approval.