Mr. Pat Healy:

There were a number of questions related to residential centres. All residential centres were written to in the week commencing 1 December when we became aware of this specific issue to remind them of their responsibilities to address it in a significant way. It is important to say that, prior to the emergence of this issue, arising from HIQA's report and so on, a learning summit was held during the year for all providers, in addition to the learning that had been identified in the original HIQA report and all that had flowed from it which had been communicated across the system. We had taken action in translating what had been learned. Particularly on the concerns people had, I may not have communicated the point well. The point I was making was that, in addition to the very specific actions we were taking, there were specific programmes we were going to implement. We have started to implement the valuation and audit-type programme in Áras Attracta, with three practice co-ordinators already working on the ground. The intention is to roll it out in 2015. This is not a policy or something we are planning to implement; rather, these are specific programmes we will be implementing and which will be included in the operational plan for 2015.

In the context of assuring standards and practices in residential centres today, focusing particularly on the units with our most vulnerable residents, the point was made clearly by Senator Mary Moran - "we are going home for Christmas" - that there was a necessity for all providers to ensure the matter was addressed urgently. I may not have got that point across. As Deputy Fergus O'Dowd said, it was made clear that, while it would be important that significant changes be planned for 2015 and to have new programmes implemented, the matter needed to be addressed urgently. All providers have committed to doing this. It will obviously be followed up in writing and communicated again before Christmas. Again, the matter was discussed at some length by the national task force following the summit. It was not in the context of complaints; rather, it was to restate the point that complaints needed to be dealt with seriously. In the context of the summit, we received feedback from advocates, voluntary representatives and so on that it was an issue which required attention. That is the reason it was emphasised during the course of the summit.

I hope that clarifies the point about the HSE taking all complaints made seriously. Our intention is to make sure all providers follow this up. We will be taking it on board in the context of implementation of the programme.