Vol. 435 No. 9
122 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the level of State funding expended on the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, from the date of implementation to the present day; and his views on whether full implementation of the various measures under this Act, particularly subventing, has been greatly impeded by inadequate funding in 1993.
A sum of £4 million was made available by Government this year for the implementation of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990. This funding has been allocated to the health boards to assist with the implementation of the Act. I expect that the funding allocated will be fully spent on implementing the Act this year.
I am satisfied that the funds allocated are adequate to meet the cost of the Act this year and that the implementation of the Nursing Homes Act has not been impeded for financial reasons. I am concerned, however, about the slow pace of registration of nursing homes under the Act. This issue has been considered by the group established by my Department to monitor the implementation of the Act. The group has recommended measures which should help accelerate the registration of homes under the Act.
