Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Health his views regarding a matter relating to persons with disabilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32859/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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One of the key commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to children and adults with disabilities is to put the National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities on a statutory footing and ensure that the services are inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). The standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services. They seek to ensure that vulnerable people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected, and their quality of life is enhanced.

While the proposal suggested by the voluntary group referred to by the Deputy was appreciated, it was also acknowledged by the Group that the 'proposal was offered only as a temporary/interim solution until such time as the longer term goal of a permanent inspectorate to inspect residential settings for people with disabilities is put in place on a statutory basis'. As I have already mentioned, the Government is committed to put the standards on a statutory footing, and ensuring that a regulatory system which will allow for a robust registration and inspection of Residential Centres is commenced.

The National Standards were formally launched on 14th May, 2013 and work is progressing in the Department on the regulations required to bring the standards into law. These are being developed taking into account the lessons learned from similar regulations for nursing homes. It is anticipated that the new registration and inspection regime will commence on the 1st September this year.

It is also important to point out that while the HIQA standards have yet to be put on a statutory footing, it is worth noting that compliance with these standards is already included in the Service Level Arrangements between HSE and service providers in the disability sector.