3130. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the status of the draft design guide for residential long-term care, given that the consultation process ended in February 2024; when the guide will come into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59719/26]

Long-term residential care remains a crucial part of the continuum of care for older people, and it is vital that the built environment and location of residential care settings support high quality care and positive experiences for our older population.

The purpose of the Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People is to articulate best practice in design for long-term residential care settings for older people and it will provide a common benchmark against which the standard of these settings can be measured.

A public consultation on the draft Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People took place and a report on the public consultation was published in January 2025. The submissions received as part of the public consultation will inform the development of the guide.