Mr. Pat Healy:

We are implementing a six-step programme of system-wide reform. The opening statement of the director general outlined three courses of action we will take. These are with regard to the unit in question; Áras Attracta, with regard to the McCoy review and its potential to translate elsewhere; and a specific six-step programme. Key elements of this include the national policy for safeguarding vulnerable persons at risk of abuse. To answer Deputy Kelleher's question, while our particular focus and that of the task force we have established is specifically on residential care, the policy applies to all services. The definition of what is intended is in respect of individuals in receipt of a care service, whether in their own homes, in the community or as residents of a centre. This is the approach which has been in place with regard to the elderly and we have expanded it to all social care.

With regard to the initiatives we are taking, expanding on the implementation of the policy to safeguard teens in each of the new community health care organisations, each team will have four or five members of staff who will lead awareness, development and education, which some members have discussed and which is very important. This will mean there will be awareness in wider society as well as among staff and those working in the system.

Other important aspects are the audit, or evaluation quality improvement programme. Today three people qualified in auditing and who have expertise in this area are in Áras Attracta working with the teams there, particularly in unit 3, to develop programmes and examining how practice can be improved. The intention is to expand this throughout the system in 2015 and we will prioritise its implementation. The intention is these members of staff will visit the 90 providers during 2015. Some of these visits will be unannounced. The programme will be implemented, and all of the policies will be checked with regard to vulnerable adults. Our service arrangements with voluntary sector providers will form part of this. Most importantly, these staff members will examine and assess practice. They will support its implementation but challenge where it is not being implemented. Any deficiencies in this regard will be identified so the services can continually improve. Separate to this, the regulator will discharge its responsibility.

An important aspect discussed in great detail at the national summit today is the development of a national volunteer advocacy programme. We have examined how the existing arrangements which have been developed in services for older people can be expanded to the disability sector. This will involve the development of residential councils in each residential centre whereby parents, family members or interested members of the community will be trained as volunteers. They will have a role, and will be able to visit, support, engage and identify areas where they feel there may be deficiencies. We will work with the sector to examine how this can be tailored to the disability sector.

The McCoy review has two key components. Much of the focus has been on the investigation and disciplinary issues, but the work of the McCoy review is probably more fundamental with regard to the learning which can transfer throughout the system and make a difference. We have put in place many programmes and training. We have also made many changes. However this did not have the desired impact with regard to unit 3. We want to learn from the McCoy review what exactly happened and where the gaps occurred, and address this specifically in Áras Attracta in the first instance so each of the nine units there will have a specific plan. We also want to translate the learning from this throughout the system. Since this issue arose we have had significant interest from academics and staff, and Dr. McCoy has agreed to facilitate this so the learning can be incorporated and it will form part of the report. We have also agreed with him that we will not wait for the full report to be concluded but will have another summit in March at which any initial learning will be encompassed. Another summit will be held in June and any additional learning at this stage will also be encompassed. We will learn as we go and will publish the final report when it is concluded.