The Aperee nursing home group has more than 500 residents in ten homes around the country. There is a serious crisis in the management of finances of residents in these homes. The HSE and HIQA are acting on that. It appears money is being taken from residents and being demanded by entities outside the structure of the home, or companies outside of the home, which are getting their hands on these funds and using them. It is an appalling and unacceptable abuse. I appreciate that HIQA and An Garda Síochána are well aware of the issue.

There is also a serious issue with fire safety in a number of these homes. Since November 2021, there have been serious red-risk rated issues with some of these homes and this has not been dealt with. I ask that the Taoiseach and Minister for Health to have a meeting to get a resolution of the legal, financial and fire problems that relate to this group of homes.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and I acknowledge once again his advocacy of older people in our society and his interest, in particular, in elder abuse. Deputy Michael Collins raised the matter of Aperee Living in Belgooly specifically earlier and I gave a comprehensive reply to him. As Deputy O’Dowd rightly pointed out, the company has a number of facilities around the country. The chief inspector of HIQA is very concerned about a number of issues, including governance and potential financial abuse, which is very serious and is being taken seriously.

HIQA has uncovered financial irregularities relating to residents' incomes in six of the nursing homes, so it is not just one and it is not sporadic. That is a matter of real concern. The Minister is very much across this issue. The chief inspector will use all the powers available to her to perform the necessary functions to investigate this and make sure it is stopped and any refunds that should take place do take place.