Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the regulation of nursing homes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21464/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority established to drive high quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 all nursing homes whether public or private are registered and inspected by HIQA. This includes a number of nursing homes operated by religious organisations. However, HIQA's remit does not extend to the regulation of residential centres catering for elderly members of religious orders. Under Section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990, premises in which the majority of the persons being maintained are members of a religious order or priests of any religion are offered an exemption to registration. While there are currently no plans to extend HIQA’s remit to these institutions, I have had discussions on the matter and will look at it again in the future.

To qualify as an approved nursing home for the purposes of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, a private nursing home will have to:

- be registered and subject to inspection by HIQA;

- reach a written agreement with NTPF on the maximum prices that will be charged for care under the Scheme; and

- be tax compliant.