Vol. 404 No. 4
338 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health when the regulations relating to the Nursing Homes Act, 1989, will be published and implemented; whether, within health board areas, there will be an increase in the total number of subvented beds for elderly people; if he will outline the financial position for 1991 for each area in this regard; when the approval of additional nursing homes will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Regulations under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, are in the process of being drafted at present. When they are finalised, the Act will be commenced and the regulations will be laid before the House. I hope to commence the Act this coming April.
The concept of subvented beds will no longer apply with the commencement of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990. Rather a statutory duty will be placed on nursing home proprietors to apply for registration to the health board and on the health board to register nursing homes. The boards will be enabled to subvent a person in need of care in a registered nursing home, following an assessment of the person's dependency and their means and circumstances.
In 1990, £0.5 million allocated to the health boards to assist with the implementation of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990.
In addition, the Programme for Economic and Social Progress gives a commitment that adequate numbers of extended care beds for the elderly will be provided, especially in those boards experiencing a rapid increase in their elderly populations.
The registration of both new and existing nursing homes will begin following the commencement of the Act.
