Dáil debates

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Disability Services

10:05 pm

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department is taking to improve the monitoring and oversight of disability services; if there are plans to introduce a statutory authority to audit disability standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25801/23]

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am asking this question on behalf of Deputy Niamh Smyth. What steps are the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and her Department taking to improve the monitoring and oversight of disability services? Are there plans to introduce a statutory authority to audit disability standards? Will she make a statement on the matter?

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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One of the central principles and opportunities relating to the transfer of functions was to ensure a legally and operationally robust governance framework that provides for the appropriate budgetary and performance management of the specialist disability services delivered by or on behalf of the HSE.

The legislative framework in place since the commencement of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 is underpinned by a suite of co-operation and reporting arrangements to provide for close collaboration between my Department, the HSE and the Department of Health. Responsibility for the delivery of these specialist services remains with the HSE following the transfer. Importantly, the HSE has its own governance arrangements with individual service providers and continues to implement and monitor these.

On quality standards, HIQA is an independent authority that was established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and monitor safety and quality in Ireland's health and personal social care services. The Health Act 2007 requires all providers – public, private and voluntary organisations – to identify residential services that meet the criteria for a designated centre and to apply to the chief inspector within HIQA to have those centres registered.

Separately, the Minister for Health is developing a regulatory framework for home support providers, with the aim of ensuring that all service users over 18 years are provided with high-quality care. It will comprise primary legislation for the licensing of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations – minimum requirements – and HIQA national standards.

On disability day services, the HSE has implemented a continuous quality-improvement approach within adult day services since 2019 by means of voluntary interim standards for new directions. The interim standards are based on a framework devised by HIQA, closely aligned with the new directions policy.

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. While I welcome her statement and am aware of how she works with all the various bodies, including HIQA, we are hitting a crisis. If we consider the pay and conditions in section 39 organisations, we will see what they are causing in the various departments. In addition to considering pay and conditions, we need to consider recruitment.

I wish to refer to a certain case I have been dealing with. I thank the Minister of State for her work on it. She and the Department of Health have allocated funding for a certain gentleman to go into the home of a service provider. The service provider, which does an excellent job, tells me it has no workers and will not be able to facilitate the man as a consequence. While I acknowledge the commitment and work of the Minister of State and the Minister, we are hitting crisis point. If we do not sort out the pay and conditions of section 39 organisations, put appropriate funding in place and recruit staff, it will not be addressed. This is a matter within the remit of both the Minister of State and Minister but I am panicking because the man is meant to go to the home shortly.

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. She hit on several key elements but the core one she speaks about is the recruitment and retention crisis that our health and social care professionals and providers are facing. While I hear what the Deputy is saying about recruitment and retention in section 39 organisations, I do not believe the issue is unique to them; it arises right across the board. The section 38 organisations are experiencing it, as is the HSE, although not to the same extent as the section 39 organisations. The Minister and I are working tirelessly to work the levers of all our colleagues in the Government to impress on them the importance of addressing this matter. To be honest with the Deputy, no one is better placed than her when it comes to forcing the hand of any Minister who sits in this row in providing the vital supports needed by our section 39 colleagues.

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Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.