Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of concerns raised that the Health Information and Quality Authority is failing to carry out comprehensive reports by not listening, or giving voice, to those with disabilities; and that this flies in the face of our understanding of how to best empower service users, and residents with disabilities; if the views of those with disabilities will be recorded, and taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8125/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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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 an important part of its inspection process is spending time with residents, listening to them and observing their quality of life in the centre. HIQA considers that this part of the inspection is very important in informing the overall findings of the inspection.

In addition to listening to residents and observing their quality of life while on inspection, HIQA has established a consultative forum for residents’ representative groups to ensure that the voice of residents are heard at organisational level in the Authority and to ensure that the views and concerns of residents’ relatives and their advocates are listened to.

HIQA welcomes feedback on its processes and reporting and views such feedback as an opportunity to improve the quality of its work.