Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I received my booklet from the Referendum Commission this morning relating to the blasphemy referendum, although I have not had time to look at it. I am sure it is fine. I have raised the issue of the scandalous waste of €3 million of public money in running a referendum to solve a problem that simply does not exist. We heard from our colleague, Senator Boyhan, about the presentation from MS Ireland. I made it along to the end of that fine presentation. The organisation is seeking €600,000 to ensure year-round running of its respite care service, which is a fifth of that €3 million. That is what could be done with that kind of money instead of wasting it on pointless referendums.

This morning I wanted to raise the matter of elderly care on foot of disturbing information recently released by HIQA. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd in the other House got a report indicating serious deficiencies in care centres for disabled and elderly citizens. It indicates 51 disability centres were threatened with closure last year, of which three were shut and 18 showed sufficient improvement in care. This report raises serious questions that need to be addressed by the Minister about the management of abuse allegations within the centres. What is to happen with the 30 disability centres operating in spite of HIQA concerns about the standard of care for which no sufficient improvement has been reported?

We must learn what are the procedures in place to ensure these centres come into line with HIQA guidelines in a prompt manner, and what happens if these centres are unable to show improvement? How long are people with disabilities expected to stay in or use these centres if they are not in line with HIQA guidelines? In the reports for each centre, dates of compliance are listed for each breach of regulation. For centres highlighted by HIQA as having serious deficiencies, what period is allowed and how long do these centres have to operate in an inadequate fashion before they are finally shut? Does HIQA have enough funding and resourcing to monitor all this? We cannot just say that because this information has come out, it shows that things are being monitored and all is well.

One report into a care facility in Dublin, the CASA breakhouse, recorded that eight of the nine action points from the previous visit were reissued to the centre with serious concerns over oversight arrangements. There was an absence of fire safety training and wholly inadequate safekeeping of medicines. People need to know how the Government is responding or has responded to the closure of the three disability centres and if there are contingency plans if some of the remaining 30 disability centres have to close because of non-improvement. Have the services of the three centres already closed been reallocated?

There has been a succession of scandals in recent years regarding the care of elderly and disabled citizens and I do not need to recount them here. This is very worrying and the Minister must urgently investigate the matter to ensure services are adequate and people are not at risk.