asked the Minister for Health whether sanction has been applied for in respect of the registration of a nursing home at Parkmore, Roscrea, County Tipperary; and, if so, the date sanction was applied for and granted.
20.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roscrea Nursing Home.
19.
asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange early sanction of the registration of Parkmore Nursing Home, Roscrea, County Tipperary.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
An application was received in my Department from the authorities of this home for approval under section 54 of the Health Act, 1970, on 15 March 1980. This procedure is required to enable health boards to pay subventions towards the cost of patients in a nursing home. Following inspection of the home by a medical officer of my Department and consultation with the Mid-Western Health Board the application was approved on 17th October 1980.
Can the Minister say why there was such a delay in the sanctioning of the nursing home for health board and VHI purposes?
That was not the question the Deputy asked. I have answered the question. The application for approval was made on 15 March and then the medical officer visited and inspected the home and recommended its approval. The health board applied on 22 July and indicated that there was a need for such beds. Given the financial circumstances there has not been undue delay.
The Minister is aware that sanction did not issue until after there had been a considerable row at the health board level, considerable publicity in the national newspapers and correspondence between the Minister and the company running the——
A question, Deputy, not a statement.
Surely the Minister should have arranged for an inspection of the centre in less than six months after the original application.
It was arranged in less than six months. The application for approval was made on 15 March and it was inspected on 15 May——
And it was not approved until 17 October?
But the health board were consulted then as to their view. They must show that there is need for these beds.
It took five months.
They applied on 22 July.