Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Photo of Pat DeeringPat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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371. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria used by HIQA for the evaluation of residential care centres for people with disabilities. [35604/14]

Photo of Pat DeeringPat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HIQA inspections that have been carried out on residential care centres for people with disabilities over the past twelve months; and where these inspections have taken place. [35606/14]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), under the Health Act 2007 (as amended) is responsible for the regulation of designated centres. HIQA has advised my Department that it refers to Section 2 (1) of the Act when evaluating whether a residential service is a designated centre. This states that a designated centre is:

“an institution

(a)at which residential services are provided by the [Health Service] Executive, a service provider or a person that is not a service provider but who receives assistance under section 39 of the Health Act 2004 or under section 10 of the Child Care Act 1991 –

I.in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991,

  II.to persons with disabilities, in relation to their disabilities, or

III.to other dependent persons, in relation to their dependencies, or

(b)that is a nursing home as defined in Section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990”

Where residential services for people with disabilities meet the definition as set out above, they are deemed to be designated centres under the Act and HIQA is then responsible for the regulation of these centres.

The regulation of designated centres includes inspections of the centres by HIQA inspectors. These inspections evaluate compliance with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and with the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities 2013.A report of the findings of each inspection is published on the HIQA website after each inspection, which includes the identification of areas of non compliance and an action plan from the provider to address those areas of non  compliance.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) began to regulate residential services for people with disabilities on 1 November 2013, pursuant to Statutory Instruments 366 (2013) and Statutory Instrument 367 (2013), which assign responsibility to HIQA for registering and inspecting residential services for children and adults with disabilities, including respite services.

I am informed by HIQA that it has conducted 667 inspections in the period 1 November 2013 – 19 September 2014.

I will arrange to forward the Deputy a detailed geographical list of the inspections that have been carried out to date.

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