Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Health his general policy in relation to Health Service Executive owned nursing homes for the elderly; if he has instructed the HSE to maintain the very important chain of HSE nursing homes across the country; if he is willing to make the necessary funding available when required to upgrade homes physically to comply with the Health Information and Quality Authority's standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19646/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government Policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and, where this is not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care.

The Department is currently considering the future of HSE Provision of Residential Care for Older People. This review will consider the position of all HSE residential facilities for Older People in terms of meeting the National Standards and Regulations. It will also consider local demographic pressures and the extent of existing public and private provision, with a view to developing an overall strategy on how the Executive should continue to provide this service in view of current budgetary and other pressures. Any plans that the Executive may have to close or withdraw residential care beds is suspended until my colleague, Minister Reilly, has had an opportunity to consider the findings of the review. I should make it clear, however, that, providing quality and safe care for our long stay residents will have to remain at the heart of these considerations.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm if it is intended to maintain the Health Service Executive owned nursing homes (details supplied) as publicly owned, fully used residential homes for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19647/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Health if he intends instructing the Health Service Executive to maintain a nursing home (details supplied) in County Galway as a fully functioning residential nursing home; if he is willing to make funding available to the HSE to enable it to upgrade the building to the required standard to utilise all the beds in the home in line with the Health Information and Quality Authority requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19648/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has sole operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as St. Francis.

The Department is currently considering the future of HSE Provision of Residential Care for Older People. This review will consider the position of all HSE residential facilities for Older People in terms of meeting the National Standards and Regulations. It will also consider local demographic pressures and the extent of existing public and private provision, with a view to developing an overall strategy on how the Executive should continue to provide this service in view of current budgetary and other pressures. Any plans that the Executive may have to close or withdraw residential care beds is suspended until my colleague, Minister Reilly, has had an opportunity to consider the findings of the review. I should make it clear, however, that, providing quality and safe care for our long stay residents will have to remain at the heart of these considerations.