Questions

1094. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned completion dates for each phase of the refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, the revised completion dates, the total duration of any delays incurred, and the specific causes of such delays. [32706/26]

1098. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original approved project budget for the fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the current projected final cost; the value of any additional works identified; and whether contingency funding has been utilised. [32710/26]

1099. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what interim fire safety measures and risk mitigation protocols are in place for residents and staff during the ongoing works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether any risk assessments have identified elevated safety concerns during the construction period. [32711/26]

1100. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the delay in completion of fire safety works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit is expected to impact bed capacity, admissions, or service delivery; and if so, the extent of such impact. [32712/26]

1101. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire risk assessment report completed in October 2024 in respect of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit classified the identified fire safety risks by severity level; if so, the classification assigned; and whether the unit was deemed compliant with applicable fire safety regulations at that time. [32719/26]

1102. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what decision-making process led to the closure of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in February 2025 following a fire risk assessment completed in October 2024; the dates on which the findings were reviewed; the level within the HSE or Department at which the decision to close was approved; and whether alternative mitigation measures short of …

1103. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the findings of the October 2024 fire risk assessment relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were formally notified to the relevant fire authority or to HIQA; if so, the dates of such notifications; and whether any compliance directions or recommendations were issued by those bodies. [32721/26]

1104. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether residents continued to occupy the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit in the period between the completion of the fire risk assessment in October 2024 and its closure in February 2025; and if so, the fire safety or risk mitigation measures that were put in place during that period. [32722/26]

1106. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit were recorded on any HSE corporate, regional, or site-specific risk register; and if so, the risk rating assigned and the dates on which the risk status was reviewed or escalated. [32730/26]

1110. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any residents displaced from the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit following its closure in February 2025 were relocated to alternative facilities; the number of residents affected; and whether any impact assessment was carried out in relation to continuity of care and patient welfare arising from the closure. [32734/26]

1116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the exact whole-time equivalent staffing complement currently assigned to the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, broken down by grade, including nursing, healthcare assistants, and all support staff. [32743/26]

1117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a final, formally approved workforce model has been signed off for Heather House Community Nursing Unit; if so, the date of approval; and if not, the reason a unit is reopening in advance of such approval. [32744/26]

1118. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether the current staffing levels at the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit are fully compliant with HIQA standards for residential care settings; and whether any risks or variances have been identified. [32745/26]

1119. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether full funding has been formally approved and allocated for the complete staffing complement required to operate the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit at full capacity; and if not, the shortfall. [32746/26]

1172. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the main contractor and any subcontractors engaged in the Heather House, Community Nursing Unit refurbishment project; the procurement method used; the contract value awarded; and whether the contract includes specific provisions relating to fire safety compliance works. [32942/26]

996. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any legislative amendments required to link NHSS funding to interRAI-determined care needs have been drafted; the reason; and when such legislation will be brought before the Oireachtas. [9299/26]

997. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason no resource utilisation group or case-mix pricing model has been introduced for long-term residential care, despite explicit recommendations and international precedent; and whether her Department has set a definitive implementation deadline. [9300/26]

998. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the international models of dependency-based nursing home funding have been examined by her Department; which were deemed suitable for Ireland; and why none have been adopted. [9301/26]

999. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when a National Safe Staffing and Skill Mix Framework for nursing homes will be finalised; to provide the date the pilot commenced; the number of pilot sites;the reason the framework remains in pilot stage several years after acceptance.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9302/26]

1000. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any funding uplift has been provided to voluntary nursing homes to meet the staffing expectations emerging from safe staffing pilots; and if not, how providers are expected to absorb rising staffing costs. [9303/26]

1001. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that voluntary nursing homes are being held to rising regulatory and clinical standards without any binding national staffing ratios or corresponding funding. [9304/26]

1002. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average weekly cost per resident in public nursing homes compared with NHSS-funded voluntary and private homes; and whether she accepts that public units frequently operate above NHSS price ceilings. [9305/26]

1004. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the Department last published a full variance analysis of actual public nursing home costs against NHSS ceilings, as recommended in the value for money review; and to provide the most recent data. [9307/26]

1011. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has quantified the administrative and compliance burden imposed on voluntary nursing homes in recent years; whether any funding has been provided to offset these additional requirements. [9314/26]

1016. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of private residential properties owned by persons in receipt of support under the nursing homes support scheme that were rented out in each year since the Fair Deal rental income reforms came into effect in early 2024; the total number of such properties currently rented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7665/26]