Proposed legislation establishing a statutory inspectorate for all nursing homes is to be published by the Government next week, according to the Minister of Health and Children, Mary Harney.
An extra €3 million is to be provided next year to fund the scheme and appoint full-time dedicated inspectors.
Ms Harney said an extra €335 million will be spent on health next year arriving from yesterday's Budget measures.
While she would not be drawn on the detail of a new Government policy for long-term care for the elderly, the minister said that no resident in existing nursing homes would have to pay more for care.
In a new measure, from next year, private companies providing home care packages will be exempt from the 21% VAT rate.
In mental health, €8 million will be provided for child and adolescent psychiatric services to enable 24 extra beds for children to be developed.
Ms Harney said that a substantial sum of money was being provided for health next year and that the service was better than the public perception.
