Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
142. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he is considering an extension to the 1 January 2022 deadline for compliance with SI 293 of 2016; if he has identified and is overseeing works needed to be carried out to public nursing homes to comply with the legislation; if funding is available to nursing homes which require works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43694/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Nursing Units are an essential part of our national infrastructure. However, many public units are housed in buildings that are less than ideal in the modern context. The Government’s Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 to 2021 programme provided the framework to allow for an enhanced programme to replace, upgrade and refurbish these long term care facilities.
The programme provides for a phased approach, with new builds and larger projects sequenced towards the end of the six-year period. Most of the funding comes from the Exchequer Capital Plan, with €150m to be sourced through Public Private Partnership.
Since 2009 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has statutory responsibility for the independent registration and inspection of all designated centres for older people, private & public.
To achieve registration, all designated centres must be fully compliant with Regulations made under the Health Act 2007 and in line with National Standards. The first National Standards were approved in February 2009. At the time a distinction was made between new builds (which had to comply from the outset), and existing nursing homes (that were given 6 years, i.e., to 2015, to meet certain infrastructural requirements, including in relation to single rooms, floor space per resident, communal facilities, etc. However, this period coincided with the country’s economic crisis and the funds were not available to deliver compliance by 2015.
The Government’s Capital Plan, Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021, committed to a major multi-annual programme of capital investment in public and voluntary social care facilities.
As a result, revised policy and legislation was brought forward in 2016 to secure the continuation of public bed availability to the end of 2021.
The ongoing engagements between the Department of Health and the HSE have identified that by the end of 2021 over 80% of the projects will be complete or under construction. While this represents substantial progress on the Programme, it is recognised that not all centres are likely to be completed within the originally planned timeframe. At the request of my Department, the HSE is undertaking an integrated package of work to examine each of the CNU projects as to their current status, next stages of development, timelines and additional costs, and any measures that could be adopted to mitigate challenges arising. Once this work is complete the HSE is expected to submit an overarching report on the status of the programme to my Department. The content of this will be considered, along with further engagement with the HSE as necessary and my officials will consider the appropriate next steps. While the regulatory changes are over 2 years away, the Department and the HSE are in early engagement which allows for the issues to be worked through to determine the best course of action.
