Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a mechanism for independent inspections of care facilities for people with disabilities. [20675/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A Standards Advisory Group was established by HIQA to develop National Quality Standards on Residential Services for People with Disabilities. The Group comprised officials of HIQA, my Department, the HSE, service providers, organisations representing people with disabilities and service users, and met on a number of occasions during 2008. Following a public consultation process initiated by HIQA, the proposed standards were formulated and have now been published. These standards will provide a national framework for quality, safe services for people with disabilities in a residential setting and relate only to adult services at present.

Given the current economic situation, it is not proposed to move to full statutory implementation of the standards, including regulation and inspection, at this time. However, notwithstanding the difficulties of immediate statutory implementation, my Department, the HSE and HIQA have agreed that progressive implementation of the Standards will now commence, and that they will become the benchmark against which the HSE assesses both its own directly operated facilities and other facilities that the HSE funds. Further discussions will take place regarding the introduction of an appropriate level of external validation for relevant settings.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of care orders granted to the Health Service Executive during 2007 and during 2008. [20677/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.