Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

In light of the report of the inquiry into the Brothers of Charity that was released yesterday, I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister to attend the House. The report raises a number of issues that are not limited to the Brothers of Charity services by any means, but in fact could apply to any disability services around the country. For example, there are aspects of the current legal system that make it difficult for any legal action to be taken in such circumstances. It is imperative that we should address these issues. We must examine what supports we can put in place to facilitate adults with an intellectual disability to give evidence and come forward with such allegations. A new inspectorate has been established but for the past number of years an anomaly has arisen whereby if one provides a residential service for children with intellectual disabilities one is exempt from such inspections. While all children are vulnerable, clearly those with an intellectual disability are even more vulnerable. This makes it imperative that such services should be subject to the work of the inspectorate. I welcome the fact that residential facilities for children with intellectual and physical disabilities will now be subject to the new inspectorate. In addition, residential facilities for adults with intellectual disability will be included within the inspectorate's remit. That system should be put in place as quickly as possible.

Some 3,000 people with intellectual disability are currently inappropriately residing in institutional settings. As a result of yesterday's report, we should examine why our residential services are not keeping up with international best practice. As a matter of urgency we must first tackle the vast majority of those 3,000 people who reside in inappropriate places.