Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department is engaging with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure that only disused nursing homes which were deregistered before 1 September 2022 and 18 months have passed since deregistration from the HIQA’s register, are used for accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs).

My Department is currently in contract or in contract negotiations with a small number of former nursing homes. The Department is not entering into any pre-contract arrangements in relation to any of these property types and will only enter discussions if/when the aforementioned conditions have been satisfied.

The intention behind this position is to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date would not be affected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers. This brings active nursing homes into the same category as other types of property that have been determined to be unsuitable as accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, including:

• Housing set aside for social housing,
• Accommodation planned for use by other arms of Government,
• Student accommodation during academic terms

The Deputy might wish to refer any further queries regarding the terms of the policy governing the use of nursing homes to my colleague the Minister for Health.