asked the Minister for Health (a) the number of homes in the State in which incapacitated and old persons are kept for private profit, and the total number of persons so kept in these homes; (b) the number of homes in which such persons are kept by charitable institutions, and the number of persons kept in such homes; and (c) the number of homes in which such persons are kept (i) by health or other local authorities, and (ii) by State authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Homes for Incapacitated and Old Persons.
3.
I presume that the Deputy, in referring to homes in which incapacitated and old persons are kept, has in mind homes which cater mainly for long-stay cases and not nursing homes which deal mainly with cases of acute illness although they may care for a small number of long-stay incapacitated and elderly patients.
On that assumption, I am aware of the existence of 17 institutions of this type in which incapacitated and old persons are kept for private profit. The total number of beds in 14 of these institutions is 174 but I have no information regarding the bed complement in the remaining three. Six of the homes have been inspected and approved for the provision of services under Section 25 of the Health Act, 1953. There may be other homes, and I believe there are, run for private profit concerning which I have no information.
While I have not comprehensive information about homes run by charitable organisations in which incapacitated and old persons are maintained, I am aware of over thirty organisations which do work in this field. The organisations I know of have about 2,600 places at their disposal.
Accommodation in local authority institutions for incapacitated and old persons is mainly provided in the 34 county homes or county home type institutions. In addition, large sections in six other health authority institutions which are not county homes are set aside for such persons and practically all the district mental hospitals include among their patients persons who are in the category mentioned. There are, in addition, three institutions run by voluntary organisations which, by special arrangement, cater almost entirely for health authority patients who are incapacitated and old.
There are no homes run by State authorities for incapacitated and old persons.
Has the Minister at present the power to inspect institutions of this kind operated by private persons for profit?
No.
But the Minister will, please God, when the Bill goes through.
Does the Minister not think it would be desirable to have that power to use at his discretion where there is any anxiety as to the standard of care provided?
If the Deputy will await a Bill I have introduced in the Seanad, and which will be discussed tomorrow and which will come to the Dáil, I hope to satisfy him that mine is the better way of proceeding.
Senator Miss Davidson's——
Not at all.