Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

178. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has had negotiations with HIQA with regard to HIQA standards as they relate to staffing schedules in publicly-funded services and specifically with regard to current recruitment difficulties and current Covid-19-related recruitment difficulties and the possibility of relaxation of these standards by agreement in certain circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57678/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for health and social care services in Ireland. HIQA operates under the Health Act 2007. Under Section 8 of the Act, which sets out the functions of the Authority, HIQA has a remit to set standards for Ireland's health and social care services, and to monitor services against these standards.

The HIQA Chief Inspector regulates designated centres under the relevant regulations for designated centres and applies the same framework to all designated centres irrespective of the public, private or voluntary funding. The regulation requires that the provider has the appropriate numbers of staff and skill mix having regard to the assessed needs of residents. The appropriateness of the staffing levels and skill mix is reviewed on inspection.

The Minister and his officials regularly engage with HIQA in regard to its functions and activities including the setting and monitoring of standards.