David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1542. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to events at a residential care facility (details supplied) as reported in the media; the steps he has taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18189/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Health, my primary concern is the safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of our disability residential services and I take any issues raised regarding their care extremely seriously.

All centre-based residential and respite care facilities for people with disabilities, including Sunbeam House Services, are subject to full registration and inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the independent regulatory authority charged with ensuring high-quality and safe care for people using our health and social care services in Ireland. The purpose of regulation is to safeguard and support the delivery of person-centred care to vulnerable people of any age who are receiving residential care services and to ensure that their health, well-being and quality of life is promoted and protected. I support the work of HIQA in this regard.

In August 2016, on foot of concerns raised by families of service users attending Sunbeam House Services, the Health Service Executive (HSE) commissioned an independent Assurance Review of the system of governance and management in Sunbeam House Services. The report on the Assurance Review was completed in April 2017 and accepted by the Board of Sunbeam House Service, who put in place an Improvement Plan to address the Review’s recommendations. The HSE, which has overseen implementation of the Improvement Plan, has advised my Department that the Review recommendations have been substantially implemented by Sunbeam House Services.

My Department has no role in the regulation of individual services but continues to liaise closely with HIQA in terms of the broader regulatory framework for the health and social care sector established under the Health Act.

Compliance with HIQA standards for residential centres is a requirement under the Service Level Arrangements between the HSE and voluntary service providers.

My Department is aware of concerns raised recently in relation to the care of service users at the residential care facility referred to by the Deputy and has brought these concerns to the attention of the HSE and HIQA and asked them to investigate these matters.

As the specific issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.