Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
457. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the independent review of the effectiveness of the regulatory and legislative framework for inspecting nursing homes has been completed and submitted to the Minister of State with responsibility for Older People (details supplied); if so, the date at which the Minister received the report; if the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50447/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPoor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of a person living in a long-term residential care setting is completely unacceptable.
On 2nd July 2026, HIQA published the independent review of its nursing home regulatory inspection and monitoring processes, undertaken by Forvis Mazars and this is publicly available to view on the HIQA website.
The Forvis Mazars review was initiated by the Minister for Health and I, as the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, following the RTÉ Investigates programme broadcast in June 2025 which highlighted serious failings in care, staffing and oversight in a number of nursing homes.
The Minister for Health and I welcome the publication of this independent review. The findings and recommendations of the review will now be considered in detail alongside ongoing policy, regulatory and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening governance, safeguarding and quality across long-term residential care settings. A detailed implementation plan will now be developed.
The health, safety and wellbeing of nursing home residents is of paramount importance to the Government.
