Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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935. To ask the Minister for Health the reason nursing homes caring for elderly clergy are not subject to the same regulations as all other nursing homes; and his plans for same. [1014/18]

Jim Daly (Cork South West, 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. 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. The exclusion of Religious orders was debated at the time of passage of the Bill in 1989 and 1990. It was recognised that a religious community caring for its members was akin to the family of the members of the religious order and therefore should be excluded in the same manner as the legislation excludes care by a family member of another family member such as a child caring for a parent or a spouse.