Mr. Phelim Quinn:

We have certainly found issues of non-compliance in smaller community-based settings, as well as in larger congregated settings. That would be the experience of health regulators even in other jurisdictions. I agreed with Deputy Durkan that, at times, the nature of the vulnerability changes from the larger institution to a smaller one. However, it is a question of trying to ensure that the focus is not necessarily always on the care or support, but on the rights of individuals living within those services.

The current assessment regime is based on current regulations, which sometimes do not always match our desire to ensure that the rights of individuals are being met. The Deputy is right in that there can be instances where there are non-compliance issues in smaller settings as well.

The Deputy also raised the issue of carers, which can be forgotten. In the work we are proposing to do with the HSE in assessment and accountability frameworks, carers' assessment probably needs to be front and centre. The needs of an individual have to be at the centre of what those assessment and accountability arrangements will provide. Part of that package, however, has to be about a carer assessment and the ability of a service commissioner to take account of the needs of informal carers.