Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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388. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 678 of 8 February 2022, the actions taken by HIQA in each such designated centre for older people and in each designated centre for people with disabilities on foot of the allegations of sexual abuse which were made; the changes that were made in each such centre to prevent further sexual abuse; the sanctions that were imposed on the six institutions that did not report the allegations to An Garda Síochána to state the position regarding the obligation on these centres for the mandatory reporting of such allegations which HIQA did; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10704/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that in six situations since 2015, inspectors found that the provider of a designated centre had not made an appropriate referral to An Garda Síochána. HIQA subsequently referred these allegations to An Garda Síochána.

These referrals were in addition to the measures taken by HIQA requiring the provider to implement actions to ensure the safety of residents. All safeguarding issues are reviewed as a matter of priority to determine the most appropriate regulatory action. In situations where substantiated safeguarding issues are identified, providers are required to take action to ensure the safety of residents. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, providers must take immediate action to address these issues and to prevent a recurrence.

In all situations, including the six referred to above, the Chief Inspector continues to monitor the actions of the provider to ensure they are effective in addressing the safeguarding concerns. The Chief Inspector can, and has, taken further action, up to and including the cancellation of registration, where providers fail to sustain improvements to residents’ safety.

Consistent with best practice and to protect the privacy of residents, it would not be appropriate for HIQA to make further comment on individual centres outside the inspection process.

I would like to again acknowledge my appreciation for HIQA’s support for, and its contribution to, my Department's ongoing work to develop national policy and legislation on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector.