Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
212. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the request of Nursing Homes Ireland for the establishment of a Department of Health-led forum on long-term care to plan the ongoing and future residential care requirements of Ireland's ageing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27710/14]
View answerNursing Homes Ireland (NHI) has called for the development of a long term strategy for the sector through formal establishment of forum or expert group of industry stake-holders. There is already a very effective level of consultation with NHI and other stakeholders on relevant issues. NHI has clear channels of communication with both my Department and the HSE. NHI, with other relevant stake-holders, are routinely consulted in relation to development of policy and regulations in the residential care sphere. I met with a delegation from NHI as recently as Wednesday 11 June and these channels remain open. I would like to assure the Deputy that planning for future services will continue to be fully informed by the views and concerns of all stakeholders, and that all positions will be considered in a balanced and objective way so as to get the optimal outcome for service users and the taxpayer.
