Máirín Quill
Ceist:193 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health the present position in relation to the drafting of regulations to implement the Nursing Homes Act, 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Nursing Homes Legislation.
Drafting of Regulations under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, is at an advanced stage.
Two sets of draft Regulations have already been discussed with bodies representing the elderly, nursing home interests and health boards. These are the Care and Welfare Regulations which deal with standards of accommodation and care in nursing homes and the Boarding Out Regulations which deal with the arrangements for the boarding out of frail elderly people.
The other sets of Regulations are the draft Subvention Regulations, which provide for the payment of subvention in respect of dependent elderly persons who require nursing care but who cannot afford to pay for it, and the draft Fees Regulations, which set out the fees payable by private nursing homes for registration with health boards. It is my intention that consultations should begin as soon as possible with bodies representing the elderly and nursing home interests on the Subvention and Fees Regulations.
TheProgramme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 includes a commitment that “provision will be made in the 1993 Estimates to begin the phased implementation of the Nursing Homes Act later this year”.