asked the Minister for Health the plans he has to up-date the Homes for Incapacitated Persons Regulations, 1966, with a view to providing effective procedures for the monitoring and control of patients in private nursing homes.

8.

asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce legislation on private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

I am examining the Homes for Incapacitated Persons Regulations of 1966 at the moment with a view to their appropriate revision.

There is a problem in relation to homes for elderly people and the regulations introduced in 1966 about this problem are vague and imprecise. Is it the intention of the Minister to specify standards for such homes such as the type of bedding, fire regulations and the number of nurses to be provided or will the Minister leave the regulations vague as they are?

The greatest need is to introduce a registration system for private nursing homes. To do that we will have to amend the Health (Homes for Incapacitated Persons) Act, 1964. I am preparing an overall hospitals Bill and I propose to incorporate changes in legislation dealing with private nursing homes in that. I can assure the Deputy that I am concerned that full registration, including the control of standards, is incorporated in that legislation. As the Deputy knows, in July 1982, the Eastern Health Board produced a report on the needs in terms of long-stay accommodation provided by private nursing homes and voluntary bodies. My work is based on that report.

Would it not be feasible at present to amend the existing regulations rather than await the possibility of an amendment of the 1964 Act? The Minister himself — without any great difficulty — could introduce amending regulations in the House rendering the existing Act much more effective than at present? This would not prevent him from introducing amendments to the Act at a later date.

I have before me draft minimum standards for nursing homes providing extended nursing care. I am particularly anxious that they should be registered — under a formal system of registration. Under the regulations I cannot include registration. I must amend the Act in order to have registration of the nursing homes. As I am at present working on a Hospitals Bill — on which a great deal of work has already been done, I think it best to incorporate into that Bill the registration process and indeed to incorporate into a statute minimum standards. It would be better to do a comprehensive job on it and a good deal of the work has already been done.

In the process of introducing new legislation in relation to these long-stay private nursing homes, will the Minister ensure that the community care directors of each area will have more direct control over these nursing homes in the future?

The present regulations enable the health boards to inspect the homes. But I would share the Deputy's view that there should be greater control exercised on a statutory basis by the health boards and the community care directors. Certainly I would wish that to be the situation and I am assured the new Bill will contain enabling powers in that regard.

Might I ask — arising out of the Minister's reply——

We cannot have a long debate on this.

When will the Hospitals Bill be brought in?

As rapidly as possible so that I will not be faced with any more private hospitals. It is one of the other purposes of the proposed Bill.

Will it be before the next General Election?

One cannot tie the Minister down on dates for Bills. What year?

I do not make false promises.