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Number 23 of 1990
HEALTH (NURSING HOMES) ACT, 1990
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Payments by health boards towards costs of maintenance of dependent persons in nursing homes. | |
Short title, construction, collective citation and commencement. |
Acts Referred to | |
1964, No. 8 | |
1970, No. 1 | |
1945, No. 19 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
1934, No. 14 | |
Number 23 of 1990
HEALTH (NURSING HOMES) ACT, 1990
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—
“the Act of 1964” means the Health (Homes for Incapacitated Persons) Act, 1964;
“dependent person” means a person who requires assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, walking, washing and bathing by reason of—
(a) physical infirmity or a physical injury, defect or disease, or
(b) mental infirmity,
and “dependency” shall be construed accordingly;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Health;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;
“register” means a register of nursing homes established under section 4 and, in relation to a particular health board, means the register so established by that board and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;
“registered proprietor”, in relation to a registered nursing home, means the person whose name is entered in the register concerned as the person carrying on the home;
“the regulations” means the regulations under section 6, and the regulations referred to in subsection (6) of that section, for the time being in force.
(2) In this Act—
(a) a reference to any enactment shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act,
(b) a reference to a section is a reference to a section of this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended,
(c) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended.
“Nursing home”.
2.—(1) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, “nursing home”, subject to subsection (2), means an institution for the care and maintenance of more than two dependent persons excluding—
(a) an institution managed by or on behalf of a Minister of the Government or a health board,
(b) an institution in which a majority of the persons being maintained are being treated for acute illnesses,
(c) a maternity home carried on by a person who is registered under the Registration of Maternity Homes Act, 1934,
(d) a mental institution within the meaning of the Mental Treatment Acts, 1945 to 1966,
(e) an institution for the care and maintenance of mentally handicapped persons operated otherwise than for profit and to which grants are paid by the Minister or a health board,
(f) premises in which children are maintained in pursuance of an arrangement with a health board,
(g) an institution operated otherwise than for profit—
(i) that is for the care and maintenance of physically handicapped persons a majority of whom do not receive whole-time nursing care in the institution,
(ii) in the management of which representatives of the Minister or a health board and representatives of the persons being maintained in the institution participate with other persons,
(iii) to which grants are paid by the Minister or a health board, and
(iv) to which paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 333 (1) of the Income Tax Act, 1967, apply, and
(h) premises in which a majority of the persons being maintained are members of a religious order or priests of any religion (other than premises in relation to which a payment has been made under section 7), but maintenance by a person of his spouse or of a parent, step-parent, child, step-child, grandchild, brother, step-brother, sister, step-sister, uncle, aunt, niece or nephew of the person or of his spouse shall, for the purposes of this definition, be disregarded.
(2) If the Minister becomes of opinion that this Act ought to apply to a class of institution for the care and maintenance of persons that it does not apply to, he may by regulations amend the definition of “nursing home” accordingly and that definition shall have effect in accordance with any regulations for the time being in force under this subsection.
Prohibition of unregistered nursing homes.
3.—(1) A person shall not carry on a nursing home unless the home is registered and the person is the registered proprietor thereof.
(2) A person shall not be in charge of a nursing home unless the home is registered.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply during the period of one year beginning on the commencement of this Act to a person who is carrying on or in charge of a nursing home in any premises if, immediately before such commencement, a nursing home was being carried on in those premises.
(4) A person shall not, whether by advertisement or otherwise, hold out a nursing home as being registered unless it is registered.
Registration of nursing homes.
4.—(1) Each health board shall establish and maintain a register of nursing homes in its functional area (referred to subsequently in this Act as “a register”).
(2) (a) There shall be entered in a register in respect of each nursing home registered therein the name of the person by whom it is carried on, the name of the person who is in charge of it, the address of the premises in which it is carried on, a statement of the number of patients who can be accommodated in the home, the date on which the registration is to take effect (referred to subsequently in this section as “the date of registration”) and such other (if any) particulars as may be prescribed.
(b) A register maintained under this section shall be made available for inspection free of charge by members of the public at all reasonable times.
(3) (a) A health board may, on application to it in that behalf by a person who proposes to carry on a nursing home in its functional area, register or refuse to register the home.
(b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the period of a registration shall be 3 years from the date of registration.
(c) Where a health board registers a nursing home, it shall issue to the registered proprietor thereof a certificate of registration in the prescribed form.
(4) (a) A person who proposes to carry on a nursing home may, before making an application under subsection (3) for the registration of the home, apply to the health board in whose functional area the home will be situated for a declaration by it that he is a suitable person to carry on a nursing home and, if he does so and pays the prescribed fee to the board, the board shall, unless the person has been convicted of an offence under this Act or the Act of 1964 or of any other offence that is such as to render the person unfit to carry on a nursing home, give to the person a statement by it in writing declaring that he is a suitable person to carry on a nursing home.
(b) An application to a health board for registration made by a person to whom a declaration under paragraph (a) has been given by the board shall not be refused for a reason specified in subparagraph (ii) of subsection (6) (b) and relating to the person unless the person has been convicted of an offence specified in the said subparagraph after the making of the application for the declaration and the board was not aware of the conviction when it gave the declaration.
(c) A health board may refuse to give a declaration under paragraph (a) to a person who fails or refuses to furnish the board with information requested by it pursuant to subsection (10) in relation to the application for the declaration and may refuse to give a declaration, or may revoke a declaration given, to a person who, in relation to the application, has furnished the board with information that is false or misleading in a material particular.
(5) A health board may remove a nursing home from the register.
(6) A health board shall not—
(a) refuse to register a nursing home in relation to which an application for its registration has been duly made, or
(b) remove a nursing home from the register,
unless—
(i) it is of opinion that—
(I) the premises to which the application or, as the case may be, the registration relates do not comply with the regulations, or
(II) the carrying on of the home will not be or is not in compliance with the regulations,
(ii) the applicant or the registered proprietor, as the case may be, or the person in charge or, as the case may be, proposed to be in charge of the home has been convicted of an offence under this Act or the Act of 1964 or of any other offence that is such as to render the person unfit to carry on or, as the case may be, to be in charge of the home, or
(iii) the applicant or the registered proprietor, as the case may be, has failed or refused to furnish the board with information requested by it pursuant to subsection (10) or has furnished the board with information that is false or misleading in a material particular, or
(iv) the registered proprietor has, not more than one year before the date from which the registration or removal from the register would take effect, contravened a condition under subsection (8).
(7) (a) A health board may refrain from registering a nursing home in relation to which an application for its registration has been duly made until the prescribed fee in respect of the application has been paid to the board.
(b) A health board may refrain from giving a declaration under subsection (4) until the prescribed fee in respect of the application has been paid to the board.
(8) (a) A health board may—
(i) at the time of registration or subsequently attach to the registration conditions in relation to the carrying on of the nursing home concerned and such other matters as it considers appropriate having regard to its functions under this Act,
(ii) attach different conditions to the registration of different nursing homes, and
(iii) amend or revoke a condition of registration.
(b) Conditions imposed under this subsection or amendments and revocations under this subsection shall be stated in the certificate of registration concerned or notified in writing to the registered proprietor of the nursing home concerned.
(9) An application for registration or for a declaration under subsection (4) shall be in the prescribed form or in a form to the like effect and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(10) (a) A health board may request an applicant for registration or, as the case may be, a registered proprietor or an applicant for a declaration under subsection (4) to furnish it with such information as it considers necessary for the purposes of its functions under this Act.
(b) A person who, whether in pursuance of a request or otherwise, furnishes information to a health board for the purposes of this Act that is false or misleading in a material particular shall be guilty of an offence unless he shows that, at the time the information was furnished to the board he was not aware that it was false or misleading in a material particular.
(11) The registered proprietor of a nursing home who proposes to carry on the home immediately after the expiration of the period of registration of the home may apply under subsection (3) to the health board concerned not less than 2 months before such expiration for the registration of the home and, if the board does not notify him before such expiration that it proposes to refuse to register the home, it shall register the home and its date of registration shall be the day following the day of such expiration.
(12) (a) Where a registered nursing home commences to be carried on by a person other than the registered proprietor—
(i) the home shall thereupon cease to be registered,
(ii) the person shall (if he has not done so before such commencement) apply not later than 4 weeks after it, to the health board concerned for the registration of the home, and, if the application is granted, the date of registration of the home shall be that of the day following the day of the cesser aforesaid,
(iii) if the application aforesaid is duly made, and is not refused then, during the period from the commencement aforesaid until the home is registered it shall be deemed, for the purposes of section 3, to be registered and there shall be deemed to be attached to the registration any conditions attached to the previous registration.
(b) A person who contravenes paragraph (a) (ii) shall be guilty of an offence.
(13) (a) Where a health board proposes to refuse to register a nursing home, to refuse to give a declaration under subsection (4), to revoke such a declaration, to remove a nursing home from the register, to attach a condition to, or amend or revoke a condition attached to, a registration, it shall notify in writing the applicant or the registered proprietor, as the case may be, of its proposal and of the reasons for it.
(b) A person who has been notified of a proposal under paragraph (a) may, within 21 days of the receipt of the notification, make representations in writing to the health board, concerned and the board shall—
(i) before deciding the matter, take into consideration any representations duly made to it under this paragraph in relation to the proposal, and
(ii) notify the person in writing of its decision and of the reasons for it.
(14) A notification of a proposal of a health board under subsection (13) shall include a statement that the person concerned may make representations to the board within 21 days of the receipt by him of the notification and a notification of a decision of a health board under subsection (13) shall include a statement that the person concerned may appeal to the District Court under section 5 against the decision within 21 days from the receipt by him of the notification.
(15) Where, in relation to a nursing home, there is a contravention of a condition of registration, the registered proprietor and the person in charge of the home shall be guilty of an offence.
Appeals.
5.—(1) A person, being the registered proprietor or, as the case may be, the person intending to be the registered proprietor, of a nursing home, may appeal to the District Court against a decision of a health board to refuse to register the home, to refuse to give, or to revoke, a declaration under section 4 (4), to remove the home from the register or to attach a condition, or to amend or revoke a condition attached, to the registration of the home and such an appeal shall be brought within 21 days of the receipt by the person of the notification of the decision under section 4 and that court may, as it thinks proper, confirm the decision or direct the health board, as may be appropriate, to register, or to restore the registration of, the home, to give, or to withdraw the revocation of, a declaration under section 4 (4), to withdraw the condition or the amendment to or revocation of a condition, to attach a specified condition to the registration or to make a specified amendment to a condition of the registration.
(2) The jurisdiction conferred on the District Court by this section shall be exercised by the justice of the District Court for the time being assigned to the District Court district in which the nursing home concerned is situated.
(3) A decision of the District Court under this section on a question of fact shall be final.
(4) Where a notification of a decision specified in subsection (1) (other than a decision to refuse to register a nursing home which was not registered or deemed to be registered at the time of the relevant application for registration) is given under section 4, then—
(a) during such period from such notification (not being less than 21 days) as the health board concerned considers reasonable and specifies in the notification, the nursing home shall be treated as if the decision had not been made and, if the decision was to refuse an application under paragraph (a) of section 4 (12) for registration, be treated as if it had been registered and the registration had attached to it any conditions attached to the relevant registration that had ceased by virtue of subparagraph (i) of the said paragraph (a), and
(b) if an appeal against the decision is brought under this section, during—
(i) the period from the end of the period aforesaid until the determination or withdrawal of the appeal or any appeal therefrom or from any such appeal, and
(ii) such further period (if any) as the Court concerned considers reasonable and specifies in its decision,
the nursing home shall—
(I) be treated for the purposes of section 3 as if the appeal had been upheld, and
(II) if the appeal was against a decision of the health board to refuse an application under paragraph (a) of section 4 (12) for registration, be treated as if the registration had attached to it any conditions attached to the relevant registration that had ceased by virtue of subparagraph (i) of the said paragraph (a).
(5) The health board concerned shall be given notice of an appeal under this section and shall be entitled to appear, be heard and adduce evidence on the hearing of the appeal.
Regulations in relation to standards in nursing homes.
6.—(1) The Minister shall, for the purpose of ensuring proper standards in relation to nursing homes, including adequate and suitable accommodation, food and care for dependent persons while being maintained in nursing homes, and the proper conduct of nursing homes, make such regulations as he thinks appropriate in relation to nursing homes.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may—
(a) prescribe requirements as to the maintenance, care, welfare and well-being of dependent persons while being maintained in nursing homes,
(b) prescribe requirements as to the numbers, qualifications and availability of members of the staffs (including the medical staffs) of nursing homes,
(c) prescribe requirements as to the design, maintenance, repair, cleaning and cleanliness, ventilation, heating and lighting of nursing homes,
(d) prescribe requirements as to the accommodation (including the amount of space in bedrooms and wards, the washing facilities and the sanitary conveniences) provided in nursing homes,
(e) prescribe requirements as to the food provided for dependent persons while being maintained in nursing homes,
(f) prescribe requirements as to the description of nursing homes in written communications by or on behalf of the registered proprietors or the persons in charge of the homes and the display in nursing homes of specified notices,
(g) prescribe requirements as to the records to be kept in nursing homes and for the examination and copying of any such records or of extracts therefrom by officers of health boards,
(h) provide for the effecting by the registered proprietors of nursing homes of contracts of insurance against injury to dependent persons being maintained in the homes while in the homes,
(i) provide for the holding and conduct of—
(i) interviews (including interviews in private) and examinations of dependent persons while being maintained in nursing homes, and
(ii) interviews (including interviews in private) of persons employed in nursing homes,
where the health board concerned has reasonable cause to believe that such dependent persons are not receiving proper maintenance or care or medical or other treatment,
(j) provide for the inspection of premises in which nursing homes are being carried on or are proposed to be carried on or that are reasonably believed by a health board to be premises in which a nursing home is being carried on and otherwise for the enforcement and execution of the regulations by the appropriate health boards and their officers,
(k) authorise the provision by the appropriate health boards of training for members of the staffs of nursing homes upon such terms and conditions and to such extent as the health boards may determine,
(l) require the provision by the registered owners of nursing homes or, at the option of such owners, by the health boards concerned of specified health services for dependent persons while being maintained in nursing homes,
(m) provide—
(i) for the consideration and investigation by the health board concerned of a complaint made to it in writing by or on behalf of a dependent person being maintained in a nursing home in relation to any matter concerning the home or the maintenance, care, welfare or well-being of the person while being so maintained or any specified related matter, and
(ii) in case a complaint under subparagraph (i) is upheld by a health board, for the issue by the board to the registered proprietor of the nursing home concerned, if the board considers it appropriate to do so, of a direction requiring the taking by such proprietor of specified action in relation to the matter complained of,
(n) authorise the provision by or on behalf of the appropriate health boards to nursing homes of such services (being services of a kind provided by or on behalf of health boards for the purposes of their functions), upon such terms and conditions and to such extent as the health boards may determine, and
(o) require the provision of specified information to interested persons by the registered owners or the persons in charge of nursing homes in relation to the homes and the accommodation, services and facilities provided for registered persons while being maintained therein.
(3) (a) Where, in relation to a nursing home, there is a contravention of a provision of the regulations the registered proprietor and the person in charge of the home shall be guilty of an offence.
(b) A person who fails or refuses to comply with a requirement of a direction under the regulations shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) (a) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section, the Circuit Court may, on the application of the health board concerned, brought not more than six months after the conviction or, in the case of an appeal against the conviction, the final determination of it or of any further appeal (if it is a determination affirming the conviction) or the withdrawal of any such appeal therefrom, by order declare that the person shall be disqualified during such period as may be specified in the order for carrying on, being in charge, or concerned with the management, of the nursing home to which the conviction related or, at the discretion of that Court, any nursing home.
(b) A person in respect of whom an order is made under this subsection shall not during the period specified in the order carry on, be in charge, or concerned with the management, of the nursing home specified in the order or, if the order so specifies, of any nursing home.
(c) A person who contravenes paragraph (b) shall be guilty of an offence.
(d) Notice of an application under this subsection shall be given to the person convicted of the offence concerned and he shall be entitled to appear, be heard and adduce evidence on the hearing of the application.
(e) The jurisdiction conferred on the Circuit Court by this subsection shall be exercised by the judge of the Circuit Court for the time being assigned to the circuit in which the premises concerned are situated.
(5) A person who wilfully obstructs or interferes with a health board or an officer of a health board in the performance of functions under the regulations or who fails or refuses to comply with a requirement of a health board or an officer of a health board under such regulations shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) Regulations under section 2 of the Health (Homes for Incapacitated Persons) Act, 1964, in force immediately before the commencement of this section shall continue in force after such commencement, and may be amended or revoked, as if made under this section.
Payments by health boards towards costs of maintenance of dependent persons in nursing homes.
7.—(1) (a) Where, following an assessment by a health board of the dependency of a dependent person and of his means and circumstances, the health board is of opinion that the person is in need of maintenance in a nursing home and is unable to pay any or part of its costs, it may, if the person enters or is in a nursing home, and subject to compliance by the home with any requirements made by the board for the purpose of its functions under this section, pay to the home such amount in respect of such maintenance as it considers appropriate having regard to the degree of the dependency and to the means and circumstances of the person.
(b) In paragraph (a) “nursing home” includes an institution referred to in section 2 (1) (h)
(2) The Minister may by regulations prescribe the amounts that may be paid by health boards under this section and such amounts may be specified by reference to specified degrees of dependency, specified means or circumstances of dependent persons or such other matters as the Minister considers appropriate.
Fees.
8.—(1) (a) A person who applies to a health board for registration or for a declaration under section 4 (4) shall pay to the board in respect of the application a fee of such amount as may stand prescribed for the time being and different fees may be prescribed in respect of applications for registration and applications for such a declaration as aforesaid.
(b) If a health board refuses an application referred to in paragraph (a), it shall not repay the fee concerned to the person who made the application.
(2) The Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of any fees paid under this Act.
Temporary management of nursing homes by health boards.
9.—(1) (a) Where a health board is of opinion that, in relation to a nursing home in its functional area, there is a failure to comply with the regulations, it may, with the consent of the registered proprietor of the home or in pursuance of an order of the District Court under subsection (2), take charge of and manage the home and may, for that purpose appoint a person to take charge of and manage the home on its behalf during such period as the health board or the District Court, as may be appropriate, may determine.
(b) A person appointed under paragraph (a) shall have all such powers as are reasonably required for the purposes of his functions under that paragraph.
(c) The registered proprietor of a nursing home and any person in charge of or managing it shall not be in charge of or take part in the management of the home during a period in which a health board or a person appointed by it, is in charge of and managing the home under this section.
(d) The amount paid by a health board to a person appointed by it under paragraph (a) in respect of the salary of the person payable by the board under the terms of the appointment may, if the board so thinks fit, be recovered by the board from the registered proprietor of the nursing home concerned as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) (a) Where, on application to it in that behalf by a health board, the District Court is satisfied that, in relation to a nursing home in the functional area of the board, there is a failure to comply with the regulations, that Court may make an order (in this subsection referred to subsequently as “a management order”) authorising the health board to take charge of and manage the home, and, for that purpose, to appoint such person as the board may determine to manage and take charge of the home on its behalf, during such period, not exceeding three months, as may be specified in the order.
(b) An application under paragraph (a) may be made either on notice to the registered proprietor of the nursing home concerned or ex parte, but the period specified in a management order made pursuant to an application made ex parte shall not exceed two weeks.
(c) A management order may be made from time to time in respect of a particular nursing home.
(d) The jurisdiction conferred on the District Court by this subsection shall be exercised by the justice of the District Court for the time being assigned to the District Court district in which the nursing home concerned is situated.
Boarding out of persons by health boards.
10.—(1) A health board may in accordance with regulations under this section make and carry out an arrangement for the boarding out in a private dwelling, whether situated within or outside the functional area of the board, of a person to whom this section applies and the arrangement may provide for the payment of all or part of the costs of the boarding out by the board.
(2) (a) The Minister may make regulations for the purposes of this section and the regulations may, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, provide for—
(i) the inspection of dwellings used or proposed to be used for boarding out persons under this section, and otherwise for the enforcement and execution of the regulations, by the health boards concerned and their officers,
(ii) the supervision by the health boards concerned and their officers of the maintenance, care and welfare of persons boarded out under this section,
(iii) the making of payments, and the amounts thereof, by health boards to persons in respect of the boarding out with them of persons under this section,
(iv) the fixing of the maximum number of persons who may be boarded out in a single dwelling under this section, and
(v) the holding and conduct of interviews (including interviews in private) of persons in a dwelling (including any persons employed in the dwelling) if the health board concerned has reasonable cause to believe that a person boarded out by it under this section in the dwelling is not receiving proper maintenance or care or that due consideration for his welfare is not being given by the person in whose dwelling he is being boarded out.
(b) A person who wilfully obstructs or interferes with a health board or an officer of a health board in the performance of functions under regulations under this section or who fails or refuses to comply with a requirement of a health board or an officer of a health board under such regulations shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) A dependent person shall not be cared for or maintained for profit in a dwelling in which a person is boarded out under this section.
(4) This section is without prejudice to the powers of a health board under section 209 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1945.
(5) In this section “person to whom this section applies”, in relation to a health board, means a person whose usual place of residence is in the functional area of the board and who, in the opinion of the board, ought, having regard to his means and circumstances, to be boarded out under this section and who consents to be so boarded out.
Penalties.
11.—A person guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both,
(b) on conviction on indictment of an offence under section 3, to a fine not exceeding £50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
Provisions in relations to offences.
12.—(1) Proceedings for a summary offence under this Act may be brought and prosecuted by the health board in whose functional area the nursing home to which the offence relates is situated or, as the case may be, the health board by which the arrangement for the boarding out to which the offence relates was made and carried out.
(2) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted within 12 months from the date of the offence.
(3) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any person, being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(4) The functions conferred by subsection (1) shall be functions of the chief executive officers of the health boards concerned and of persons acting as deputy chief executive officers of those boards in accordance with section 13 of the Health Act, 1970.
Saver.
13.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorising the reception and care of a person where such reception and care would contravene any provision of the Mental Treatments Acts, 1945 to 1966.
Laying of regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.
14.—Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Repeals.
15.—(1) The Act of 1964 and, subject to subsection (2), section 54 of the Health Act, 1970, are hereby repealed.
(2) The repeal of the said section 54 shall not apply in relation to persons (including children) for whom services were being provided pursuant to an arrangement under that section immediately before the commencement of this Act.
Expenses.
16.—The expenses of the Minister under this Act, shall, to such extent as may be specified by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of monies provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title, construction, collective citation and commencement.
17.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990.
(2) The Health Acts, 1947 to 1986, the Health (Amendment) Act, 1987, and this Act shall be construed together as one Act and may be cited together as the Health Acts, 1947 to 1990.
(3) This Act shall come into operations on such day as the Minister may appoint by order.
Uimhir 23 de 1990
AN tACHT SLÁINTE (TITHE BANALTRAIS), 1990
RIAR NA nALT
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9. | Bainisteoireacht shealadach ar thithe banaltrais ag boird sláinte. |
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Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
An tAcht Sláinte. 1970 | |
An tAcht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar. 1945 | |
Na hAchtanna Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945 go 1966 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851. c. 93 |
An tAcht um Chlárú Tithe Máithreachais. 1934 | |
Uimhir 23 de 1990
AN tACHT SLÁINTE (TITHE BANALTRAIS), 1990
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ BREISE I nDÁIL LE TITHE BANALTRAIS DO DHAOINE CLEITHIÚNACHA AGUS CHUN NA CRÍCHE SIN DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ CHUN BOIRD SLÁINTE DO CHLÁRÚ TITHE DEN SÓRT SIN, DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ CHUN BOIRD SLÁINTE DO CHUR DAOINE CLEITHIÚNACHA AMACH AR LÓISTÍN AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ LE hAGHAIDH NITHE COMHGHAOLMHARA. [21 Iúil, 1990]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1964” an tAcht Sláinte (Teaghlaigh do Dhaoine Éagumasaithe), 1964;
ciallaíonn “duine cleithiúnach” duine a dteastaíonn cabhair uaidh le gníomhaíochtaí na beatha laethúla ar nós gléasadh, ithe, siúl, ní agus folcadh mar gheall ar aon ní acu seo a leanas—
(a) éiglíocht coirp nó díobháil, éalang nó galar coirp, nó
(b) éiglíocht meabhrach,
agus forléireofar “cleithiúnacht” dá réir sin;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Sláinte;
ciallaíonn “forordaithe” forordaithe le rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire;
ciallaíonn “clár” clár de thithe banaltrais a bhunófar faoi alt 4 agus, i ndáil le bord sláinte áirithe, ciallaíonn sé an clár arna bhunú amhlaidh ag an mbord sin agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin;
ciallaíonn “dílseánach cláraithe”, i ndáil le teach banaltrais cláraithe, an duine a bhfuil a ainm taifeadta sa chlár áirithe mar an duine a sheolann an teach;
ciallaíonn “na rialacháin” na rialacháin faoi alt 6, agus na rialacháin dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (6) den alt sin, atá i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire.
(2) San Acht seo—
(a) mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, déanfar tagairt d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don achtachán sin arna leasú nó arna leathnú le haon achtachán, nó faoi aon achtachán, ina dhiaidh sin lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo,
(b) aon tagairt d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht seo mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe,
(c) aon tagairt d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhomhír is tagairt í don fho-alt, don mhír nó don fhomhír den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
“Teach banaltrais”.
2.—(1) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, ciallaíonn “teach banaltrais”, faoi réir fho-alt (2), foras chun breis agus dhá dhuine chleithiúnacha a aireachasú agus a chothabháil gan iad seo a leanas a áireamh—
(a) foras atá á bhainisteoireacht ag Aire Rialtais nó ag bord sláinte nó thar a cheann,
(b) foras a bhfuil formhór na ndaoine atá á gcothabháil ann ag fáil cóireála le haghaidh géarthinneas,
(c) teach máithreachais a sheolann duine atá cláraithe faoin Acht um Chlárú Tithe Máithreachais, 1934.
(d) foras meabhairghalar de réir bhrí na nAchtanna Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945 go 1966,
(e) foras chun daoine meabhairéislinneacha a aireachasú agus a chothabháil agus a oibrítear ar shlí seachas le haghaidh brabúis agus a n-íocann an tAire nó bord sláinte deontais leis,
(f) áitreabh ina gcothabháiltear leanaí de bhun comhshocrú le bord sláinte,
(g) foras a oibrítear ar shlí seachas le haghaidh brabúis—
(i) is foras chun daoine corpéislinneacha a aireachasú agus a chothabháil ar daoine iad nach bhfaigheann a bhformhór aireachas banaltrais lánaimseartha san fhoras,
(ii) ina bhfuil ionadaithe de chuid an Aire nó de chuid boird sláinte agus ionadaithe de chuid na ndaoine atá á gcothabháil san fhoras rannpháirteach le daoine eile sa bhainisteoireacht,
(iii) a n-íocann an tAire nó bord sláinte deontais leis, agus
(iv) a bhfuil feidhm ag míreanna (a) agus (b) d'alt 333 (1) den Acht Cánach Ioncaim, 1967, maidir leis, agus
(h) áitreabh a bhfuil formhór na ndaoine atá á gcothabháil ann ina gcomhaltaí d'ord creidimh nó ina sagairt d'aon chreideamh (seachas áitreabh a mbeidh íocaíocht déanta ina leith faoi alt 7),
ach, chun críocha an mhínithe seo, ní thabharfar aird ar chothabháil ag duine ar a chéile nó ar thuismitheoir, leastuismitheoir, leanbh, leasleanbh, ua nó banua, deartháir, leasdeartháir, deirfiúr, leasdeirfiúr, uncail, aintín, nia nó neacht den duine sin nó dá chéile.
(2) Má thagann an tAire ar an tuairim gur cheart don Acht seo feidhm a bheith aige maidir le haicme forais chun daoine a aireachasú agus a chothabháil nach bhfuil feidhm ag an Acht maidir léi, féadfaidh sé le rialacháin an míniú ar “teach banaltrais” a leasú dá réir sin agus beidh éifeacht leis an míniú sin de réir aon rialachán a bheidh i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire faoin bhfo-alt seo.
Tithe banaltrais neamhchláraithe a thoirmeasc.
3.—(1) Ní sheolfaidh duine teach banaltrais mura mbeidh an teach cláraithe agus murab é an duine an dílseánach cláraithe ar an teach.
(2) Ní bheidh duine i bhfeighil tí banaltrais mura mbeidh an teach cláraithe.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (1) agus (2) go ceann tréimhse bliana dar tús tosach feidhme an Achta seo maidir le duine a mbeidh teach banaltrais á sheoladh aige nó a bheidh i bhfeighil tí banaltrais in aon áitreabh má bhí teach banaltrais á sheoladh san áitreabh sin díreach roimh an tosach feidhme sin.
(4) Ní thabharfaidh duine le tuiscint, cibé acu le fógrán nó ar shlí eile, go bhfuil teach banaltrais cláraithe mura bhfuil sé cláraithe.
Tithe banaltrais a chlárú.
4.—(1) Bunóidh gach bord sláinte agus cothabhálfaidh sé clár de thithe banaltrais ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin (dá ngairtear “clár” ina dhiaidh seo san Acht seo).
(2) (a) Taifeadfar i gclár maidir le gach teach banaltrais a bheidh cláraithe ann ainm an duine atá á sheoladh, ainm an duine atá ina fheighil, seoladh an áitribh ina bhfuil sé á sheoladh, ráiteas maidir leis an líon othar dár féidir cóiríocht a sholáthar sa teach, an dáta a mbeidh éifeacht leis an gclárú (dá ngairtear “an dáta cláraithe” ina dhiaidh seo san alt seo) agus cibé sonraí eile (más ann) a fhorordófar.
(b) Déanfar clár a chothabháiltear faoin alt seo a chur ar fáil lena iniúchadh saor in aisce ag an bpobal gach tráth réasúnach.
(3) (a) Féadfaidh bord sláinte, ar iarratas chuige ina thaobh sin ag duine a bheartaíonn teach banaltrais a sheoladh ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin, an teach a chlárú nó diúltú é a chlárú.
(b) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, is é a bheidh i dtréimhse cláraithe tréimhse 3 bliana ó dháta an chláraithe.
(c) I gcás go gcláróidh bord sláinte teach banaltrais, eiseoidh sé deimhniú cláraithe san fhoirm fhorordaithe don dílseánach cláraithe ar an teach.
(4) (a) Féadfaidh duine a bheartóidh teach banaltrais a sheoladh, sula ndéanfaidh sé iarratas faoi fho-alt (3) chun an teach a chlárú, iarratas a dhéanamh chuig an mbord sláinte ar ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin a bheidh an teach suite ar dhearbhú ón mbord gur duine oiriúnach é chun teach banaltrais a sheoladh agus má dhéanann sé amhlaidh agus má íocann sé an táille fhorordaithe leis an mbord, tabharfaidh an bord ráiteas i scríbhinn uaidh don duine á dhearbhú gur duine oiriúnach é chun teach banaltrais a sheoladh murar ciontaíodh an duine i gcion faoin Acht seo nó faoi Acht 1964 nó in aon chion eile de shaghas a d'fhágfadh an duine neamhoiriúnach chun teach banaltrais a sheoladh.
(b) Aon iarratas ar chlárú chuig bord sláinte ó dhuine ar thug an bord dearbhú dó faoi mhír (a) ní dhiúltófar é ar chúis a shonraítear i bhfomhír (ii) d'fho-alt (6) (b) agus a bhaineann leis an duine murar ciontaíodh an duine i gcion a shonraítear san fhomhír sin tar éis an t-iarratas le haghaidh an dearbhaithe a dhéanamh agus nárbh eol don bhord, an tráth a thug sé an dearbhú, gur ciontaíodh é.
(c) Féadfaidh bord sláinte diúltú dearbhú a thabhairt faoi mhír (a) do dhuine a mhainníonn nó a dhiúltaíonn faisnéis a thabhairt don bhord a iarrann sé de bhun fho-alt (10), i ndáil leis an iarratas ar an dearbhú, agus féadfaidh sé diúltú dearbhú a thabhairt do dhuine, nó cúlghairm a dhéanamh ar dhearbhú a bheidh tugtha do dhuine, a thug faisnéis don bhord, maidir leis an iarratas, a bhí bréagach nó míthreorach i bponc ábhartha.
(5) Féadfaidh bord sláinte teach banaltrais a bhaint den chlár.
(6) Ní dhéanfaidh bord sláinte—
(a) clárú tí banaltrais a dhiúltú a bhfuil iarratas ar é a chlárú déanta go cuí i ndáil leis, ná
(b) teach banaltrais a bhaint den chlár.
mura rud é—
(i) go bhfuil sé den tuairim—
(I) nach ndéanann an t-áitreabh lena mbaineann an t-iarratas nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an clárú na rialacháin a chomhlíonadh, nó
(II) nach gcomhlíonfaidh seoladh an tí, nó nach gcomhlíonann sé, na rialacháin,
(ii) gur ciontaíodh an t-iarratasóir nó an dílseánach cláraithe, de réir mar a bheidh, nó an duine atá i bhfeighil an tí nó, de réir mar a bheidh, atá beartaithe a bheith i bhfeighil an tí, i gcion faoin Acht seo nó faoi Acht 1964, nó in aon chion eile de shaghas a d'fhágfadh an duine neamhoiriúnach chun an teach a sheoladh nó, de réir mar a bheidh, chun bheith i bhfeighil an tí, nó
(iii) gur mhainnigh nó gur dhiúltaigh an t-iarratasóir nó an dílseánach cláraithe, de réir mar a bheidh, faisnéis a thabhairt don bhord a d'iarr sé de bhun fho-alt (10) nó gur thug an t-iarratasóir nó an dílseánach sin faisnéis don bhord atá bréagach nó míthreorach i bponc ábhartha, nó
(iv) go ndearna an dílseánach cláraithe, tráth nach faide ná bliain amháin roimh an dáta a mbeadh éifeacht leis an gclárú nó leis an mbaint den chlár, coinníoll faoi fho-alt (8) a shárú.
(7) (a) Féadfaidh bord sláinte staonadh ó theach banaltrais a chlárú a mbeidh iarratas lena chlárú déanta go cuí i ndáil leis go dtí go mbeidh an táille fhorordaithe i leith an iarratais íoctha leis an mbord.
(b) Féadfaidh bord sláinte staonadh ó dhearbhú a thabhairt faoi fho-alt (4) go dtí go mbeidh an táille fhorordaithe i leith an iarratais íoctha leis an mbord.
(8) (a) Féadfaidh bord sláinte—
(i) tráth an chláraithe nó ina dhiaidh sin coinníollacha a chur ag gabháil leis an gclárú i ndáil le seoladh an tí banaltrais lena mbaineann agus le cibé nithe eile is cuí leis ag féachaint dá fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo,
(ii) coinníollacha éagsúla a chur ag gabháil le clárú tithe banaltrais éagsúla, agus
(iii) coinníoll i dtaca le clárú a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(b) Déanfar coinníollacha a fhorchuirfear faoin bhfo-alt seo nó leasuithe agus cúlghairmeacha faoin bhfo-alt seo a lua sa deimhniú cláraithe lena mbaineann nó fógra a thabhairt i scríbhinn fúthu do dhílseánach cláraithe an tí banaltrais lena mbaineann.
(9) Beidh iarratas ar chlárú nó ar dhearbhú faoi fho-alt (4) san fhoirm fhorordaithe nó i bhfoirm ar chomhéifeacht leis agus beidh an táille fhorordaithe ag gabháil leis.
(10) (a) Féadfaidh bord sláinte a iarraidh ar iarratasóir ar chlárú, nó, de réir mar a bheidh, ar dhílseánach cláraithe nó ar iarratasóir ar dhearbhú faoi fho-alt (4) cibé faisnéis a thabhairt dó a mheasfaidh sé a bheith riachtanach chun críocha a chuid feidhmeanna faoin Acht seo.
(b) Duine a thugann faisnéis do bhord sláinte, cibé acu de bhun iarrata nó ar shlí eile, chun críocha an Achta seo, ar faisnéis í atá bréagach nó míthreorach i bponc ábhartha beidh sé ciontach i gcion mura dtaispeánann sé nárbh eol dó í a bheith bréagach nó míthreorach i bponc ábhartha, an tráth ar tugadh an fhaisnéis don bhord.
(11) Dílseánach cláraithe tí banaltrais a bheartaíonn an teach a sheoladh díreach tar éis tréimhse chláraithe an tí a bheith imithe in éag, féadfaidh sé iarratas a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (3) chun an bhoird sláinte lena mbaineann, 2 mhí ar a laghad roimh dhul in eág don tréimhse sin, chun an teach a chlárú agus mura gcuirfidh an bord in iúl dó roimh dhul in éag don tréimhse sin go bhfuil sé beartaithe aige diúltú an teach a chlárú, cláróidh sé an teach agus is é an lá i ndiaidh an lae a ndeachaigh an tréimhse sin in éag a dháta cláraithe.
(12) (a) I gcás gur duine seachas an dílseánach cláraithe a thosaíonn ar theach banaltrais cláraithe a sheoladh—
(i) scoirfidh an teach air sin de bheith cláraithe,
(ii) déanfaidh an duine (mura ndearna sé amhlaidh roimh an tosú sin) iarratas, tráth nach déanaí ná 4 seachtaine dá éis, chuig an mbord sláinte lena mbaineann chun an teach a chlárú agus má dheonaítear an t-iarratas is é dáta cláraithe an tí an lá a thagann i ndiaidh lá an scoir réamhráite,
(iii) má dhéantar an t-iarratas réamhráite go cuí agus nach ndiúltaítear é, ansin, i rith na tréimhse ón tosú réamhráite go dtí go gcláraítear an teach measfar, chun críocha alt 3, é a bheith cláraithe agus measfar aon choinníollacha a bhí ag gabháil leis an gclárú roimhe sin a bheith ag gabháil leis an gclárú.
(b) Beidh duine a sháróidh mír (a) (ii) ciontach i gcion.
(13) (a) I gcás go mbeartóidh bord sláinte diúltú teach banaltrais a chlárú, diúltú dearbhú a thabhairt faoi fho-alt (4), dearbhú den sórt sin a chúlghairm, teach banaltrais a bhaint den chlár, coinníoll a chur ag gabháil le clárú nó coinníoll atá ag gabháil le clárú a leasú nó a chúlghairm, tabharfaidh sé fógra i scríbhinn don iarratasóir nó don dílseánach cláraithe, de réir mar a bheidh, faoina thográ agus faoi na cúiseanna atá leis.
(b) Duine a bhfuil fógra tugtha dó maidir le togra faoi mhír (a) féadfaidh sé, laistigh de 21 lá ón lá a bhfaighidh sé an fógra, uiríll a dhéanamh i scríbhinn chuig an mbord sláinte lena mbaineann agus—
(i) sula gcinnfidh an bord an t-ábhar, cuirfidh sé san áireamh aon uiríll a bheidh déanta go cuí chuige faoin mír seo i ndáil leis an togra, agus
(ii) tabharfaidh an bord fógra i scríbhinn don duine faoina chinneadh agus faoi na cúiseanna atá leis.
(14) Folóidh fógra faoi thogra boird sláinte faoi fho-alt (13) ráiteas go bhféadfaidh an duine lena mbaineann uiríll a dhéanamh chuig an mbord laistigh de 21 lá oń lá a bhfaighidh sé an fógra agus folóidh fógra faoi chinneadh boird sláinte faoi fho-alt (13) ráiteas go bhféadfaidh an duine lena mbaineann achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Dúiche faoi alt 5 in aghaidh an chinnidh laistigh de 21 lá ón lá a bhfaighidh sé an fógra.
(15) Más rud é, i ndáil le teach banaltrais, go ndéanfar sárú ar choinníoll i leith cláraithe, beidh an dílseánach cláraithe agus an duine atá i bhfeighil an tí ciontach i gcion.
Achomhairc.
5.—(1) Féadfaidh duine, arb é an dílseánach cláraithé é nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an duine a bhfuil sé beartaithe aige a bheith ina dhílseánach cláraithe, ar theach banaltrais achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Dúiche in aghaidh cinnidh ó bhord sláinte diúltú an teach a chlárú, diúltú dearbhú faoi alt 4 (4) a thabhairt, nó dearbhú den sórt sin a chúlghairm, an teach a bhaint den chlár nó coinníoll a chur ag gabháil le clárú an tí nó coinníoll atá ag gabháil le clárú an tí a leasú nó a chúlghairm agus tionscnófar achomharc den sórt sin Laistigh de 21 lá ón lá a bhfaighidh an duine an fógra faoin gcinneadh faoi alt 4 agus féadfaidh an chúirt sin, mar is cuí léi, an cinneadh a dhaingniú nó a ordú don bhord sláinte, de réir mar is iomchuí, an teach a chlárú nó a chlárú a chur ar ais ar an gclár, dearbhú a thabhairt faoi alt 4 (4), nó cúlghairm dearbhaithe faoin alt sin a tharraingt siar, an coinníoll nó an leasú nó an chúlghairm ar choinníoll a tharraingt siar, coinníoll sonraithe a chur ag gabháil leis an gclárú nó leasú sonraithe a dhéanamh ar choinníoll den chlárú.
(2) Feidhmeoidh an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche Chúirte Dúiche ina bhfuil an teach banaltrais lena mbaineann suite an dlínse a thugtar don Chúirt Dúiche leis an alt seo.
(3) Is cinneadh críochnaitheach cinneadh den Chúirt Dúiche faoin alt seo are cheist fíorais.
(4) I gcás go ndéanfar fógra faoi chinneadh a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) (seachas cinneadh diúltú teach banaltrais a chlárú nach raibh cláraithe nó nár measadh é a bheith cláraithe an tráth a ndearnadh an t-iarratas iomchuí ar chlárú) a thabhairt faoi alt 4, ansin—
(a) le linn cibé tréimhse ón bhfógra sin a thabhairt (nach giorra ná 21 lá) a mheasfaidh an bord sláinte lena mbaineann a bheith réasúnach agus a bheidh sonraithe ag an mbord san fhógra, déileálfar leis an teach banaltrais amhail is dá mba nach ndearnadh an cinneadh agus, más diúltú iarratais ar chlárú faoi mhír (a) d'alt 4 (12) a bhí sa chinneadh, déileálfar leis amhail is dá mbeadh sé cláraithe agus go raibh curtha ag gabháil leis an gclárú aon choinníollacha a bhí curtha ag gabháil leis an gclárú iomchuí a scoir de bhua fhomhír (i) den mhír sin (a), agus
(b) má thionscnaítear achomharc in aghaidh an chinnidh faoin alt seo—
(i) le linn na tréimhse ó dheireadh na tréimhse réamhráite go dtí cinneadh nó tarraingt siar an achomhairc nó aon achomhairc ina aghaidh sin nó in aghaidh aon achomhairc den sórt sin, agus
(ii) le linn cibé tréimhse breise (más ann) a mheasfaidh an Chúirt lena mbaineann a bheith réasúnach agus a shonróidh sí ina cinneadh,
déileálfar leis an teach banaltrais—
(I) chun críocha alt 3 amhail is dá dtacófaí leis an achomharc, agus
(II) más achomharc in aghaidh cinnidh ón mbord sláinte iarratas ar chlárú a dhiúltú faoi mhír (a) d'alt 4 (12) an t-achomharc, amhail is dá mbeadh curtha ag gabháil leis an gclárú aon choinníollacha a bhí curtha ag gabháil leis an gclárú iomchuí a scoir de bhua fhomhír (i) den mhír sin (a).
(5) Tabharfar fógra faoi achomharc faoin alt seo don bhord sláinte lena mbaineann agus beidh sé i dteideal láithriú, éisteacht a fháil agus fianaise a thabhairt ar aird ar an achomharc a éisteacht.
Rialacháin i ndáil le caighdeáin i dtithe banaltrais.
6.—(1) D'fhonn caighdeáin chuí i ndáil le tithe banaltrais a áirithiú, lena n-áirítear cóiríocht, bia agus aireachas atá leordhóthanach agus oiriúnach do dhaoine cleithiúnacha le linn dóibh a bheith á gcothabháil i dtithe banaltrais, agus d'fhonn a áirithiú go seolfar tithe banaltrais mar is cuí, déanfaidh an tAire cibé rialacháin is iomchuí leis i ndáil le tithe banaltrais.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1), féadfar le rialacháin faoin alt seo—
(a) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir le cothabháil, aireachasú, leas agus dea-bhail daoine cleithiúnacha fad a bheidh siad á gcothabháil i dtithe banaltrais,
(b) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir le líon agus cáilíochtaí comhaltaí d'fhoirne (lena n-aírítear lia-fhoirne) tithe banaltrais agus maidir le fáil a bheith orthu,
(c) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir le dearadh, cothabháil, deisiú, glanadh agus glaineacht, aerú, téamh agus soilsiú tithe banaltrais,
(d) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir leis an gcóiríocht (lena n-áirítear an méid spáis i seomraí leapa agus i mbardaí, na saoráidí níocháin agus na háiseanna sláintíochta) a sholáthrófar i dtithe banaltrais,
(e) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir leis an mbia a sholáthrófar do dhaoine cleithiúnacha fad a bheidh siad á gcothabháil i dtithe banaltrais,
(f) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir leis an tuairisc a thabharfar ar thithe banaltrais i gcumarsáidí i scríbhinn ag na dílseánaigh chláraithe nó ag na daoine atá i bhfeighil na dtithe nó thar a gceann agus maidir le fógraí sonraithe a thaispeáint i dtithe banaltrais,
(g) ceanglais a fhorordú maidir leis na taifid a choimeádfar i dtithe banaltrais agus le haon taifid den sórt sin nó aon sleachta astu a scrúdú agus a chóipeáil ag oifigigh do bhoird sláinte,
(h) foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh conarthaí árachais a dhéanamh ag dílseánaigh chláraithe tithe banaltrais in aghaidh díobhála do dhaoine cleithiúnacha a bheidh á gcothabháil sna tithe fad a bheidh siad sna tithe.
(i) foráil a dhéanamh—
(i) chun agallaimh (lena n-áirítear agallaimh phríobháideacha) agus scrúduithe a dhéanamh agus a sheoladh i gcás daoine cleithiúnacha fad a bheidh siad á gcothabháil i dtithe banaltrais, agus
(ii) chun agallaimh (lena n-áirítear agallaimh phríobháideacha) a dhéanamh agus a sheoladh i gcás daoine a fhostaítear i dtithe banaltrais,
má bhíonn cúis réasúnach ag an mbord sláinte lena mbaineann lena chreidiúint nach bhfuil cothabháil nó aireachas nó lia-chóireáil nó cóireáil eile chuí á fháil ag na daoine cleithiúnacha sin.
(j) foráil a dhéanamh chun áitreabh a iniúchadh ina bhfuil tithe banaltrais á seoladh nó ina mbeartaítear iad a sheoladh nó a gcreideann bord sláinte go réasúnach gur áitreabh é ina bhfuil teach banaltrais á sheoladh agus thairis sin chun na boird sláinte iomchuí agus a n-oifigigh d'fhorfheidhmiú agus d'fhorghníomhú na rialachán,
(k) a údarú go gcuirfidh na boird sláinte iomchuí oiliúint ar fáil do chomhaltaí d'fhoirne tithe banaltrais ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha agus go feadh cibé méid a chinnfidh na boird sláinte,
(l) a cheangal go ndéanfaidh úinéirí cláraithe tithe banaltrais nó, de réir rogha na n-úinéirí sin, na boird sláinte lena mbaineann, seirbhísí sláinte sonraithe a chur ar fáil do dhaoine cleithiúnacha fad a bheidh siad á gcothabháil i dtithe banaltrais.
(m) foráil a dhéanamh—
(i) chun go ndéanfaidh an bord sláinte lena mbaineann breithniú agus iniúchadh ar ghearán a dhéanfaidh duine cleithiúnach atá á chothabháil i dteach banaltrais, nó a dhéanfar thar ceann an duine sin, chuige i scríbhinn, ar gearán é i ndáil le haon ní a bhaineann leis an teach nó le cothabháil, aireachas, leas nó dea-bhail an duine fad a bheidh sé á chothabháil amhlaidh nó le haon ní sonraithe atá gaolmhar leis sin, agus
(ii) i gcás go dtacóidh bord sláinte le gearán faoi fhomhír (i), go n-eiseoidh an bord ordú chuig dílseánach cláraithe an tí banaltrais lena mbaineann, má mheasann an bord é a bheith iomchuí déanamh amhlaidh, á cheangal ar an dílseánach sin beart sonraithe a dhéanamh maidir leis an ní a ndearnadh gearán faoi,
(n) a údarú go ndéanfaidh na boird sláinte iomchuí, nó go ndéanfar thar a gceann, cibé seirbhísí (ar seirbhísí iad de chineál a chuireann boird sláinte ar fáil nó a chuirtear ar fáil thar a gceann chun críocha a bhfeidhmeanna) a chur ar fáil do thithe banaltrais ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha agus go feadh cibé méid a chinnfidh na boird sláinte, agus
(o) a cheangal ar úinéirí cláraithe tithe banaltrais nó ar na daoine ina bhfeighil faisnéis shonraithe a chur ar fáil do dhaoine leasmhara i ndáil leis na tithe agus leis an gcóiríocht, na seirbhísí agus na saoráidí a chuirtear ar fáil do dhaoine cláraithe fad atá siad á gcothabháil iontu.
(3) (a) Más rud é, i ndáil le teach banaltrais, go ndéanfar sárú ar fhoráil a bheidh sna rialacháin beidh an dílseánach cláraithe agus an duine atá i bhfeighil an tí ciontach i gcion.
(b) Aon duine a mhainneoidh nó a dhiúltóidh ceanglas d'ordú faoi na rialacháin a chomhlíonadh beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(4) (a) I gcás ina gciontófar duine i gcion faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt Chuarda, ar iarratas ón mbord sláinte lena mbaineann, arna dhéanamh tráth nach déanaí ná sé mhí tar éis an chiontaithe nó, i gcás achomhairc in aghaidh an chiontaithe, tar éis an chinnidh chríochnaithigh air nó ar aon achomharc breise (más cinneadh é a dhaingníonn an ciontú) nó tar éis aon achomhairc den sórt sin ón gcéanna a tharraingt siar, a dhearbhú le hordú go mbeidh an duine dícháilithe ar feadh cibé tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san ordú chun an teach banaltrais lenar bhain an ciontú nó, de rogha na Cúirte, aon teach banaltrais, a sheoladh, chun a bheith i bhfeighil an chéanna nó a bheith bainteach lena bhainisteoireacht.
(b) Ní dhéanfaidh duine a ndéanfar ordú ina thaobh faoin bhfo-alt seo le linn na tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san ordú an teach banaltrais a bheidh sonraithe san ordú nó, má shonraítear amhlaidh san ordú, aon teach banaltrais a sheoladh, a bheith i bhfeighil an chéanna nó a bheith bainteach lena bhainisteoireacht.
(c) Beidh duine a sháróidh mír (b) ciontach i gcion.
(d) Tabharfar fógra maidir le hiarratas faoin bhfo-alt seo don duine a ciontaíodh sa chion lena mbaineann agus beidh sé i dteideal láithriú, éisteacht a fháil agus finanaise a thabhairt ar aird ar an iarratas a éisteacht.
(e) Déanfaidh breitheamh na Cúirte Cuarda a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don chuaird ina bhfuil an t-áitreabh lena mbaineann suite an dlínse a thugtar don Chúirt Chuarda leis an bhfo-alt seo a fheidhmiú.
(5) Aon duine a bhacfaidh go toiliúil bord sláinte nó oifigeach do bhord sláinte nó a chuirfidh isteach go toiliúil orthu le linn dóibh a bheith ag comhlíonadh feidhmeanna faoi na rialacháin nó a mhainneoidh nó a dhiúltóidh ceanglas de chuid boird sláinte nó de chuid oifigigh do bhord sláinte faoi na rialacháin sin a chomhlíonadh beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(6) Leanfaidh rialacháin faoi alt 2 den Acht Sláinte (Teaghlaigh do Dhaoine Éagumasaithe), 1964, a bhí i bhfeidhm díreach roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo, i bhfeidhm tar éis an tosach feidhme sin, agus féadfar iad a leasú nó a chúlghairm, amhail is dá mbeidís déanta faoin alt seo.
Íocaíochtaí ag boird sláinte faoi chomhair costas cothabhála daoine cleithiúnacha i dtithe banaltrais.
7.—(1) (a) Más rud é, tar éis do bhord sláinte cleithiúnacht duine chleithiúnaigh agus a acmhainn agus a dhálaí a mheasúnú, gur dóigh leis an mbord sláinte gur gá an duine a chothabháil i dteach banaltrais agus nach bhfuil sé in ann aon chostais de chuid an tí banaltrais, ná aon chuid de na costais sin, a íoc, féadfaidh an bord sláinte, má théann an duine isteach i dteach banaltrais nó má tá sé istigh ann, agus faoi réir an teach do chomhlíonadh aon cheanglas arna dhéanamh ag an mbord chun críche a fheidhmeanna faoin alt seo, cibé méid a íoc leis an teach i leith na cothabhála sin a mheasann sé a bheith iomchuí ag féachaint do ghrád na cleithiúnachta agus d'acmhainn agus do dhálaí an duine.
(b) I mír (a) folaíonn “teach banaltrais” foras dá dtagraítear in alt 2 (1) (h).
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire le rialacháin na méideanna a fhéadfaidh boird sláinte a íoc faoin alt seo a fhorordú agus féadfar na méideanna sin a shonrú faoi threoir grád sonraithe cleithiúnachta, faoi threoir acmhainne nó dálaí sonraithe daoine cleithiúnacha nó cibé nithe eile a mheasfaidh an tAire a bheith iomchuí.
Táillí.
8.—(1) (a) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh iarratas chuig bord sláinte ar chlárú nó ar dhearbhú faoi alt 4 (4) íocfaidh sé leis an mbord i leith an iarratais táille de cibé méid a bheidh arna forordú de thuras na huaire agus féadfar táillí éagsúla a fhorordú i leith iarratas ar chlárú agus i leith iarratas ar dhearbhú den sórt sin mar atá réamhráite.
(b) Má dhiúltaíonn bord sláinte d'iarratas dá dtagraítear i mír (a), ní aisíocfaidh sé an táille lena mbaineann leis an duine a rinne an t-iarratas.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, maidir le haon táillí a íocfar faoin Acht seo.
Bainisteoireacht shealadach ar thithe banaltrais ag boird sláinte.
9.—(1) (a) Más é tuairim boird sláinte, i ndáil le teach banaltrais ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin, go bhfuil mainneachtain á dhéanamh na rialacháin a chomhlíonadh, féadfaidh sé, le toiliú dhílseánach cláraithe an tí nó de bhun ordú de chuid na Cúirte Dúiche faoi fho-alt (2), dul i bhfeighil an tí agus é a bhainisteoireacht agus féadfaidh sé chun na críche sin duine a cheapadh chun dul i bhfeighil an tí agus é a bhainisteoireacht thar a cheann ar feadh cibé tréimhse a chinnfidh an bord sláinte nó an Chúirt Dúiche, de réir mar is iomchuí.
(b) Aon duine a cheapfar faoi mhír (a) beidh na cumhachtaí sin go léir aige is gá go réasúnach chun críocha a fheidhmeanna faoin mír sin.
(c) Ní bheidh dílseánach cláraithe tí banaltrais ná aon duine atá ina fheighil nó á bhainisteoireacht i bhfeighil an tí ná ní ghlacfaidh sé páirt i mbainisteoireacht an tí le linn tréimhse ina mbeidh bord sláinte nó duine a cheapfaidh an bord i bhfeighil an tí agus á bhainisteoireacht faoin alt seo.
(d) Maidir leis an méid a íocfaidh bord sláinte le duine a cheapfaidh sé faoi mhír (a) faoi choinne tuarastal an duine is iníoctha ag an mbord faoi théarmaí an cheapacháin, féadfaidh an bord, más cuí leis sin, an méid sin a ghnóthú ó dhílseánach cláraithe an tí banaltrais lena mbaineann mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla.
(2) (a) I gcás gur deimhin leis an gCúirt Dúiche, ar iarratas chuici chuige sin ag bord sláinte, go bhfuil mainneachtain á dhéanamh na rialacháin a chomhlíonadh i gcás tí banaltrais i limistéar feidhmiúcháin an bhoird, féadfaidh an Chúirt sin ordú (dá ngairtear “ordú bainisteoireachta” san fho-alt seo ina dhiaidh seo) a dhéanamh á údarú don bhord sláinte dul i bhfeighil an tí agus é a bhainisteoireacht, agus, chun na críche sin, cibé duine a cheapadh a chinnfidh an bord chun an teach a bhainisteoireacht agus dul ina fheighil thar a cheann ar feadh cibé tréimhse, nach faide ná trí mhí, a bheidh sonraithe san ordú.
(b) Aon iarratas faoi mhír (a) féadfar é a dhéanamh iar bhfógra chuig dílseánach cláraithe an tí banaltrais lena mbaineann nó ex parte, ach ní bheidh an tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe in ordú bainisteoireachta a dhéanfar de bhun iarratais arna dhéanamh ex parte, níos faide ná dhá sheachtain.
(c) Féadfar ordú bainisteoireachta a dhéanamh ó am go ham maidir le teach banaltrais áirithe.
(d) Déanfaidh breitheamh na Cúirte Dúiche a bheidh sannta de thuras na huaire don dúiche Chúirte Dúiche ina bhfuil an teach banaltrais lena mbaineann suite an dlínse a thugtar don Chúirt Dúiche leis an bhfo-alt seo a fheidhmiú.
Boird sláinte do chur daoine amach ar lóistín.
10.—(1) Féadfaidh bord sláinte de réir rialachán faoin alt seo comhshocraíocht a dhéanamh agus a chur i gcrích chun duine lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a chur amach ar lóistín i dteaghais phríobháideach cibé acu atá an teaghais suite laistigh nó lasmuigh de limistéar feidhmiucháin an bhoird, agus féadfaidh an chomhshocraíocht foráil a dhéanamh chun go n-íocfar na costais go léir nó cuid de na costais a thig ón gcur amach ar lóistín ag an mbord.
(2) (a) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun críocha an ailt seo agus féadfaidh na rialacháin, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht an méid sin roimhe seo, foráil a dhéanamh—
(i) chun teaghaisí a úsáidtear nó a bheartaítear a úsáid le haghaidh daoine a chur amach ar lóistín faoin alt seo a iniúchadh, agus thairis sin chun na rialacháin a fhorfheidhmiú agus a fhorghníomhú, ag na boird sláinte lena mbaineann agus ag a n-oifigigh,
(ii) chun go ndéanfaidh na boird sláinte lena mbaineann agus a n-oifigigh cothabháil, aireachas agus leas na ndaoine atá curtha amach ar lóistín faoin alt seo a mhaoirsiú,
(iii) chun íocaíochtaí a dhéanamh, agus le haghaidh méideanna na n-íocaíochtaí sin, ag boird sláinte le daoine maidir le daoine a chur amach ar lóistín leis na daoine sin faoin alt seo,
(iv) chun an líon uasta daoine is féidir a chur amach ar lóistín i dteaghais aonair faoin alt seo a shocrú, agus
(v) chun agallaimh (lena n-áirítear agallaimh phríobháideacha) a dhéanamh agus a sheoladh le daoine i dteaghais (lena n-áirítear aon daoine atá fostaithe sa teaghais) má bhíonn cúis réasúnach ag an mbord sláinte lena mbaineann lena chreidiúint nach bhfuil duine atá curtha amach ar lóistín aige faoin alt seo sa teaghais ag fáil cothabhála nó aireachais chuí nó nach bhfuil an duine ar ina theaghais atá sé curtha amach ar lóistín ag tabhairt aird chuí ar a leas.
(b) Aon duine a bhacfaidh go toiliúil bord sláinte nó oifigeach do bhord sláinte nó a chuirfidh isteach go toiliúil orthu le linn dóibh a bheith ag comhlíonadh feidhmeanna faoi rialacháin faoin alt seo nó a mhainneoidh nó a dhiúltóidh ceanglas de chuid boird sláinte nó de chuid oifigigh do bhord sláinte faoi rialacháin den sórt sin a chomhlíonadh beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(3) Ní dhéanfar duine cleithiúnach a aireachasú ná a chothabháil le haghaidh brabúis i dteaghais ina bhfuil duine curtha amach ar lóistín faoin alt seo.
(4) Ní dochar an t-alt seo do chumhachtaí boird sláinte faoi alt 209 den Acht Cóireála Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945.
(5) San alt seo ciallaíonn “duine lena mbaineann an t-alt seo”, i ndáil le bord sláinte, duine a bhfuil a ghnáth-áit chónaithe i limistéar feidhmiúcháin an bhoird agus ar cheart, i dtuairim an bhoird, ag féachaint dá acmhainn agus dá dhálaí, é a chur amach ar lóistín faoin alt seo agus a thoilíonn a bheith curtha amach ar lóistín amhlaidh.
Pionóis.
11.—Duine atá ciontach i gcion faoin Acht seo—
(a) dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná trí mhí, nó iad araon, a chur air,
(b) dlífear, ar é a chiontú ar díotáil i gcion faoi alt 3, fíneáil nach mó ná £50,000 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain, nó iad araon, a chur air.
Forálacha maidir le cionta.
12.—(1) Féadfar imeachtaí i leith ciona achomair faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh agus a thabhairt ar aghaidh ag an mbord sláinte ar ina limistéar feidhmiúcháin atá an teach banaltrais lena mbaineann an cion nó, de réir mar a bheidh, ag an mbord sláinte a rinne agus a chuir i gcrích an chomhshocraíocht don chur amach ar lóistín lena mbaineann an cion.
(2) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achoimre i leith ciona faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh laistigh de 12 mhí ó dháta an chiona.
(3) I gcás cion faoin Acht seo a bheith déanta ag comhlacht corpraithe agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh an cion amhlaidh le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó go raibh sé inchurtha i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile ar an gcomhlacht corpraithe, nó duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin, i dteannta an chomhlachta chorpraithe, ciontach i gcion agus dlífear imeachtaí a shaothrú ina choinne agus é a phionósú amhail is dá mbeadh sé ciontach sa chion céadluaite.
(4) Is feidhmeanna de chuid phríomh-oifigeach feidhmiúcháin na mbord sláinte lena mbaineann agus de chuid daoine a ghníomhaíonn mar leasphríomh-oifigigh feidhmiúcháin na mbord sin de réir alt 13 den Acht Sláinte, 1970, na feidhmeanna a thugtar le fo-alt (1).
Cosaint.
13.—Ní fhorléireofar aon ní san Acht seo mar ní a údaraíonn aon duine a ghlacadh agus a aireachasú i gcás ina sáródh an glacadh agus an t-aireachasú sin aon fhoráil atá sna hAchtanna Meabhair-Ghalar, 1945 go 1966.
Rialacháin a leagan faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais.
14.—Gach rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán sin,
Aisghairm.
15.—(1) Aisghairtear leis seo Acht 1964 agus, faoi réir fho-alt (2), alt 54 den Acht Sláinte, 1970.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag aisghairm an ailt sin 54 i ndáil le daoine (lena n-áirítear leanaí) a raibh seirbhísí á soláthar dóibh de bhun comhshocraíochta faoin alt sin díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
Caiteachais.
16.—Déanfar caiteachais an Aire faoin Acht seo a íoc, a mhéid a shonróidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal, forléiriú, comhlua agus tosach feidhme.
17.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Sláinte (Tithe Banaltrais), 1990, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar na hAchtanna Sláinte, 1947 go 1986, an tAcht Sláinte (Leasú), 1987, agus an tAcht seo a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon Acht amháin agus féadfar na hAchtanna Sláinte, 1947 go 1990, a ghairm díobh le chéile.
(3) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.