Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the capital investment for each unit that will be required with upgrading community hospitals and nursing homes in County Donegal in order to ensure that they comply with the legal provisions on residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16557/11]

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.

Any capital development, including grants for the refurbishment of nursing homes, must be considered in the context of the overall HSE Capital Plan. In drawing up its multi-annual capital programme for the current 2011-2015 period the HSE is required to prioritise capital infrastructure projects within the overall capital funding allocation. The HSE has submitted its draft capital plan. This draft plan is under consideration and requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Details of the plan will be published by the HSE following its approval.

Details of the capital investment that will be required to upgrade community hospitals and nursing homes to ensure compliance with the legal provisions on residential care will be provided by the Health Service Executive. I have requested the Executive to reply directly to you.