The Health Services Executive (HSE) is investigating 95 deaths at the Leas Cross Nursing Home in north Dublin that occurred between 2002 and 2005, it has emerged.
In a written answer to a parliamentary question obtained by Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney said a professor of geriatric medicine had begun an independent review of the deaths at the Swords home. The review began on September 1st and si due for completion by the end of the year.
Mr O'Dowd said he understood the period being examined covered 2002 to 2005.
He also revealed that a response he obtained to a Freedom of Information request showed the HSE advised Leas Cross management on the June 8th that in excess of 20 additional nurses would be required to provide an "appropriate standard of care".
It was reasonable to question whether the level of care at Leas Cross contributed to any of the 95 deaths under review, Mr O'Dowd said.
"Beyond these immediate questions that must be answered there is a continuing issue regarding the introduction of an independent and transparent nursing home inspectorate," he added.
Fine Gael has been calling for an inspectorate for four years.
"The Government has shown a capacity to move swiftly and attempt to legalise the State's illegal nursing home charges for the over 70s. It has shown significantly less urgency in facilitating the repayment of those illegal charges or in introducing the much-needed independent nursing home inspectorate.
"If confidence in the majority of well run nursing homes is to be maintained then this independent regime is a must," the Louth TD said.
Leas Cross closed after the State withdrew public patients last July in the wake of a Prime Time Investigatesexpose of conditions at the home.
It later emerged that inspectors who examined the home when it opened in 1998 recommended against it being granted official registration. They also said if it was to be registered then it should have no more than 22 residents. The facility catered for up to 111.
It has been put up for sale as a going concern, though the owner, Mr John Aherne, may also decide to offer it for rent on a long lease.