The Health Service Executive has taken over control of a private nursing home in Bray, Co Wicklow, after serious concerns were raised for the health and welfare of its residents.
The HSE was brought in after the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) secured an interim District Court order to deregister the Glenbervie Nursing Home on Sidmonton Road, Bray, on Monday night.
The HSE began managing the home yesterday and it will be required to prepare care plans for the home's 27 elderly residents and find appropriate alternative accommodation for them.
The matter is due back before the District Court in a few weeks.
In a short statement today Hiqa said: "Pursuant to Sections 59 and 60 of the Health Act 2007, an interim order was made by the District Court in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 29 March 2010 cancelling the registration of Glenbervie Nursing Home, Sidmonton Road, Bray, Co Wicklow, as a designated centre under part 8 of the Health Act 2007, with effect from 9am on 30 March 2010.
"In accordance with Section 64 of the Health Act 2007 the HSE was directed to take charge of the nursing home from such time and to make alternative arrangements for the residents of the nursing home as soon as practicable.
"The matter is still before the courts and at this time Hiqa will not be making any public comment or statements until all legal proceedings have concluded".
No inspection report on the home has been published by Hiqa since it began inspecting all public and private nursing homes last July.
This is the first time Hiqa has taken out such a court order against a nursing home.
The last time the HSE was brought in to run a private nursing home was in mid-2005 after the scandal over conditions at the former Leas Cross nursing home in north Dublin became public.
When the HSE began to move residents from Leas Cross to alternative accommodation, it effectively shut down the home.