Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to highlight the absolute failure of this Government to manage the care of citizens with intellectual disabilities. They are vulnerable citizens. It is totally inappropriate and unjustifiable that these citizens have been left in this manner. They are citizens who have rights, like all of us.

The Tánaiste will remember the scandal last year surrounding the investigation into Áras Attracta. Unfortunately, that scandal was quickly followed by too many more scandals. For example, a HIQA report into St. Patrick's Centre campus in Kilkenny found that it was understaffed, poorly maintained, unclean and lacked an adequate fire safety plan. That is a basic necessity in any care centre, but it was not in place. In recent years a number of HIQA reports have highlighted major non-compliance in residential centres for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The centres have failed on multiple grounds in respect of non-compliance of regulations. Last April, the HIQA chief executive Phelim Quinn told a conference hosted by Inclusion Ireland that the standard of care in some residential centres was disturbing and appalling. Last summer HIQA gave notice to 20 disability services that their registrations would be refused or cancelled if they did not make necessary improvements within 28 days.

The HSE revealed in June last year that more than 20 staff were being investigated for abusing residents with severe intellectual disabilities throughout the State - and this is a small state. This year the problem has continued. For example, the centre at St. Mary's in Drumcar run by St. John of God's was closed because inspectors from HIQA found significant and ongoing levels of non-compliance and were not assured that the services being provided were safe. In recent weeks we have seen the additional scandal of St. John of God's withdrawing funding from St. Augustine's in Dublin while 14 of its senior managers received secret top-ups to the tune of €2 million. That is disgraceful and cannot continue.

There is a crisis in the provision of care for citizens with intellectual disabilities. While many care homes provide excellent services, many others do not and they need to be dealt with. Does the Tánaiste accept that the failure of Government to fully register residential services, provide for proper and regular inspections and monitor these care homes is a disgrace and requires urgent attention?

Will the Government agree to establish as a matter of urgency a fully independent root and branch inquiry into all care facilities for citizens with intellectual disabilities?

See this speech in context