Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
341. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will list any and all restrictions for use that have been placed on former nursing home buildings that have recently closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16018/23]
View answerThe Department of Health takes the closures of nursing homes very seriously. The closure of nursing homes can put pressure on other local health and social care facilities. It is vital that the welfare of residents is ensured. There are several reasons for nursing home closures each year including retirement, non-compliance with HIQA regulations, financial viability and, in some cases, recognition that the premises would not be compliant with revised regulations. Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is the most important thing and work to alleviate the concerns of residents and their families must continue.
It became apparent near the end of August last year that a small number of active nursing homes had chosen to convert into accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Other active nursing homes were known to be in official negotiations or to be considering this approach. In light of the challenges currently being faced in the nursing home sector, Minister Donnelly and I jointly wrote to Minister O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, in November to express our concerns in relation to this matter and to set out the Department’s policy position. Minister Donnelly and I both agreed to request a change to the procurement guidelines around accommodation for persons under temporary protection that would exclude from consideration active nursing homes that were still registered operators with HIQA on or after the date of 1 September 2022. The intention behind this position is to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date would not be affected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers. Neither Minister Donnelly nor I have any direct role in the procurement process or the approval of any individual accommodation centres for use by displaced persons. Given the changing situation with regard to accommodation for persons under temporary protection, the Department of Health will review this policy before the end of April 2023, with a view to providing longer-term certainty to the nursing home sector and potential providers of temporary accommodation services. The Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), under whose remit procurement and approval of accommodation centres for use by beneficiaries of temporary protection falls, have indicated that they will apply this position. Ministers and the Department of Health are committed to continuing, constructive cross-Government engagement to address the health and social care needs of beneficiaries of temporary protection as well as the identification of appropriate sites for that might be used for accommodation.
