Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding allocated to the standards advisory group under the Health Information and Quality Authority; if any of this funding has been cut; the level of funding that would be required to move to full statutory implementation of the recommended standards; the manner in which progressive implementation of the standards will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23102/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when further discussions will take place with the Health Information and Quality Authority standards advisory group regarding external validation of the relevant settings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23103/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.

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. The Standards Advisory Group has completed its work. No funding was allocated by my Department to the Standards Advisory Group so the issue of cuts in funding does not arise.

My Department is currently working with the HSE and HIQA to quantify the level of funding that would be required to move to full statutory implementation of the Standards. However, given the current economic situation, a move to full statutory implementation of the standards, including regulation and inspection, would present significant challenges at this time. 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. Discussions are also taking place regarding the introduction of an appropriate level of external validation for relevant settings.