Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
297 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the closure of a nursing home (details supplied) in County Louth; and the issues raised in the last health board inspection of this nursing home. [7519/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in Louth is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the North Eastern Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.
298 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children when urgent dental treatment will be made available by medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who suffers from auto immune condition and is in urgent need of dental treatment for medical reasons. [7539/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the provision of dental treatment to eligible persons in County Limerick rests with the Mid-Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
299 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce regulations to make all health board nursing home reports available to all residents of nursing homes and their families immediately; if he will make them available on the Internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7540/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the inspection of private nursing homes is the responsibility of the health boards under the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990. Regulations made under this Act empower health boards to inspect private nursing homes. At present, there is no requirement on the health boards to make these reports available to residents or their families.
My Department has established a working group comprising all stakeholders to review the operation and administration nursing home subvention scheme. As part of this review, the working group will be examining all issues in relation to the regulation of private nursing homes, including the inspection process.
