John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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944. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); if correspondence sent to HIQA by a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19775/17]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory independent regulator for the nursing home sector and this responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and National Quality Standards.

Nursing homes are monitored and inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements set out by the Health Act 2007, and by the regulations and national standards. As a regulator HIQA has no formal legal role in examining individual complaints, however, the Authority welcomes information about designated centres for dependent persons. If there is a serious risk to the health and welfare of persons accessing the service, HIQA may decide to take appropriate action.

While HIQA does not comment on individual concerns I can advise the Deputy that all persons who contact HIQA with a concern are advised to contact the service provider in the first instance. The provider is required under the Health Act 2007 to have a clear complaints procedure in place. Concerns can also be addressed to the HSE's Your Service Your Say, the HSE National Information Line, the Office of the Ombudsman or a HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team, as appropriate. Further information on how to make a complaint or give feedback about health and social care services in Ireland can be found on .