Written answers

Tuesday, 4 November 2014

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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786. To ask the Minister for Health the progress of extending the remit of HIQA to cover all private health care facilities including privately owned facilities given the important remit of HIQA in maintaining high standards of care throughout the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42073/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department continues to develop a Licensing of Healthcare Bill. It is intended that licensing of healthcare facilities will extend across both public and private healthcare providers, with an initial focus on hospitals and high risk health services in settings other than hospitals. HIQA will be the licensing authority with responsibility for granting and revoking licences, for inspecting against core standards and for imposing sanctions as necessary. I expect to be in a position to submit the Heads of the Bill to Government for approval in the New Year and the draft Heads will be published thereafter.

At the same time my Department is examining the possibility of amending the Health Act 2007 to extend HIQA's remit for standard setting and monitoring to the private healthcare sector in the shorter term. Any such legislative proposals would require Government approval before proceeding.

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