All public and private nursing homes are subject to an independent and transparent inspection regime from today.

The regulations underpin the national quality standards for residential care settings for older people in Ireland.

They were approved by Minister for Health Mary Harney last February.

It followed widespread consultations with service providers, residents and their families, the Health Service Executive and organisations representing elderly people.

Homes will be assessed under 32 different standards.

These include safeguards for the privacy and dignity of residents, the right to a written contract of care, hygiene guidelines and guarantees to protect people from abuse.

Inspections will begin across the country in the coming months.

They will take place at any time during the day or night and may be either announced or unannounced.

Reports will be published immediately after every inspection on the Health Information and Quality Authority website.

Welcoming the latest development, Ms Harney said the chief inspector of social services will now have the power to inspect all designated centres for older people.

Dr Marion Witton, Chief Inspector of Social Services at HIQA, says new nursing home inspections will play an important part in protecting elderly people in care.

An estimated 21,000 people are in full-time residential care in Ireland.