Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Health further to the recently published HIQA 2016 overview, the steps that have been taken to address the poor practices identified including peer-to-peer abuses, inappropriate staff practices, unsafe physical environments and poor safeguarding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22273/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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HIQA is an independent body with an expanding remit for inspection and sanction. HIQA has a range of internal processes which govern how it manages services of concern, and it has adopted a stepped approach to escalation and enforcement. Its inspectors, inspector managers and other staff must:

- identify risks to residents, children and patients;

- assess the level of risk;

- plan and take regulatory actions;

- monitor the effectiveness of such actions in reducing risks.

In cases where nursing home services or residential services are considered high risk or are under consideration for cancellation and or refusal of registration, they are placed on our Regulatory Risk Register. Regulatory Risk Register meetings are convened fortnightly and consider all of the services on the register. The Regulatory Risk Register is chaired by the Director of Regulation/Chief Inspector who holds ultimate responsibility for all decisions made in respect of services that are monitored and regulated by HIQA under the Health Act.

The Review report for 2016 has been recently received and is in the process of being reviewed by relevant units in this Department and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.