Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to ensure the various residential institutions reach the standards laid out. They have not been granted an extension of time by HIQA to reach them. What is most important is that they be independently inspected, that the work being done is independently examined by HIQA. That is where our focus should be to ensure the services being provided and the care being given are of the very best standard. The staff who are working in the services need to be able to do their job in appropriate facilities and provide the care we would expect to be provided for adults - it is primarily adults who are involved - in need of residential care.

That is the Government's intention. That is the direction those services are moving in. I agree with the Deputy it is critical that they move as quickly as possible. As I have said, we know the standards have traditionally not been good enough. Now that this is out in the open, HIQA is inspecting and the money is available to ensure there is compliance. The services have been given the necessary amount of time, but not an undue amount of time, to reach the outlined standards they should meet.

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