Dr. John Lannon:

I can speak about the HIQA inspections, Mr. Henderson can speak on AHBs and I can go over some other points after that.

On the inspections, we have been talking about the problematic nature of inspections for years, since 2006 or 2007. The International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, is supposed to carry out inspections using its own staff and the staff of a private company, QTS Limited. The inspections are supposed to monitor compliance with the rules and things like food hygiene, water supply, general safety and that sort of thing. In terms of inspections, very little has changed over the last decade and a half in respect of the types of problems being reported.

To explain why we feel the HIQA inspections are particularly important, currently, three inspections are supposed to be carried out per year. That was not even happening in all centres pre-Covid, but it certainly has not been happening since the onset of the Covid pandemic. The current inspections essentially monitor the contractual obligations of the contractors, building maintenance and that sort of thing. As I said, there are supposed to be three inspections per year.

HIQA inspections would be different. They would aim to improve generally the quality and safety of health and social care services. They would do a lot more than just focus on the buildings. They would focus on the quality, safety, person-centred care and that sort of thing. Essentially, they would or should consult and assist people using the services to understand what they should expect and they should develop guidance for staff in order to make improvements. Reading the current inspection reports and looking back over the years, we see that residents are not consulted. They are not even being considered. Current inspections are, at best, about buildings and kitchens and things like that. HIQA inspections would be more about people. From a human rights perspective, that is really important. We have talked about children. It is also vitally important from a safeguarding perspective. Indeed, the Ombudsman for Children has highlighted that the current inspection regime does not take into consideration the supports needed to meet children's physical, mental and social development.

It has been delayed. The Minister has said that progress has been made.

There has been engagement with HIQA on getting inspections up and running. There is a question mark over whether legislative change is needed. I believe that it is, but the Minister said in May that that had not yet been determined. This uncertainty is worrying given the very dire need for inspections. The Emergency Homeless Accommodation and Direct Provision Independent Inspections Bill 2018 sought to amend the Health Act 2007, but it was never enacted. It would have granted HIQA the power to inspect direct provision centres. It is a vital area in terms of ensuring that the services are appropriate, not just for children but everybody.

I will hand over to Mr. Henderson now to deal with the questions on the approved housing bodies, AHBs, following which I will come back in again on some of the other issues.