Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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349. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed report on his engagement with officials in the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority to deal with very serious issues regarding abuses of persons with intellectual disabilities highlighted in a broadcast programme (details supplied). [48793/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Department of Health has both formal and informal structures in place with the HSE and HIQA in relation to the monitoring of developments, on an ongoing basis, relating to the delivery of health and personal services in Ireland. The Department was advised by the HSE that serious allegations of abuse of vulnerable people with a disability residing in Áras Attracta had been made in the week commencing 24 November 2014. The Department also received advance notice in early December from the HSE that serious allegations of mistreatment of residents in Áras Attracta 2014 and would be broadcast on the Prime Time Programme on 9 December 2014. The HSE fully cooperated with the Department in briefing officials and the Minister for Health and Minister of State at the Department of Health on all the relevant issues relating to Áras Attracta including the implementation of immediate measures to (a) suspend staff in bungalow 3, (b) safeguard the welfare of all residents in Áras Attracta and (c) the initiation of both an expert investigation into these serious allegations chaired by Mr Christy Lynch and an independently chaired review of the services provided at this facility, led by Dr Kevin McCoy. This process of engagement with the HSE and HIQA is ongoing.