Ms Mary Dunnion:

I agree with Mr. Quinn that decongregation will not be possible for all people living in disability centres. Decongregation is national policy. However, the 3,500 people living in designated centres have aged and have developed health care needs, so the concept of decongregation for some of them will not be possible. As it stands, HIQA would work with the people providing these services to see what is the best environment and also what is acceptable to persons in designated centres.

This emphasises the next point concerning models of care. A ward with four or five people who have high health care needs may be safer in an environment like that. Equally, there are people who do not require that level of care. They may have physical requirements such as being helped to wash or whatever it may be. Various types of services are required by people whom we are currently regulating. However, as currently legislated, we regulate what is defined as a designated centre. That is why I agree with Deputy Durkan that there is now an opportunity to begin to examine the regulation of services. It means then that design can be more appropriate to what care requirements a person needs. As it is set up, that is not possible at the moment. I agree with the Deputy's point, however.