Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the standards for services for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35792/07]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will expedite the framing and implementation of national standards and inspection of residential centres and community homes for children and adults with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35900/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 197 together.

Draft National Standards were produced by the National Disability Authority (NDA) in association with the Department of Health and Children. These draft Standards were forwarded by the Minister for Health and Children to the interim Health Information and Quality Authority (iHIQA).

Building on this work, HIQA recently established a national committee whose task is to consider the development of service specific standards including residential and community based services for people with disabilities in residential centres. I understand a set of draft standards will be available for public consultation in the second quarter of 2008 and completed by the third quarter. A published set of standards is expected by the end of 2008. In the meantime, HIQA will be recruiting and training inspectors so that inspections of the disability services should commence in 2009.