To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether the required ratio of carers to dependants is being fulfilled in private care homes in East Londonderry.

All nursing and residential care homes in both the statutory and private sectors are required to operate in compliance with minimum standards.

These standards require that at all times there must be enough staff with the appropriate skills to meet the assessed needs of the residents – taking into account the size and layout of the home, as well as the Statement of Purpose and fire safety requirements.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is responsible for the registration and inspection of nursing and residential care homes. RQIA provides guidance to registered homes on the minimum staffing levels they should maintain and, through inspection, ensures compliance with these levels.