Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

751. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are HIQA standards applying to the care of under 65’s in long-term residential care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25278/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since November 2013, all designated centres for people with disabilities, both children and adults, must be registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HIQA is the independent Authority under the aegis of the Department of Health, which was established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland's health and personal social care services, monitor the safety and quality of these services and promote person-centred care for the benefit of the public.

The Health Act 2007 provided for HIQA's establishment, its inspection and regulation of designated centres, and the framework for registration of designated centres. A “Designated centre” is the term used in the Health Act 2007 to describe residential centres for (i) people with disabilities, (ii) older people, and (iii) children.

This applies to individuals under the age of 65 in long-term residential care.

The Health Act 2007 and the associated regulations set out the framework for the regulation of designated centres for people with disabilities and include the basic requirements that providers must meet in ensuring safe, good quality care and support to people with disabilities who live in their centres.

National Standards were also prepared to support service providers to achieve a high standard of care in residential services for children and adults with disabilities.

As of July 2024, there were 1611 registered designated centres providing 9162 registered places for persons with a disability. 154 of these were respite services providing 753 respite places. These designated centres are operated by 89 service providers, including the HSE.

HIQA's Disability inspection team is legally responsible for the monitoring, inspection and registration of designated centres for adults and children with a disability.

Inspections are carried out to assess compliance with the Health Act 2007 (as amended), and relevant regulations. Upon completion of an inspection, where the quality of support is insufficient or inadequate, the inspection and monitoring of centres by inspectors ensures that providers are required to take action to rectify issues in relation to the safety and quality of life for people with disabilities in order to bring the centre back into compliance, within an agreed timeframe.

Where necessary, HIQA can apply its powers of enforcement to cancel the registration of a designated centre to operate as a service provider, where it has significant concerns about the quality of governance and oversight in the services concerned.

In many instances the HSE will work with the service and HIQA to assist in moving the service to compliance.

Centres are registered on a three-year cycle and are inspected by the Chief Inspector of Social Services, HIQA, to assess compliance with regulations and standards (usually two inspections during each three-year registration cycle).

All inspection reports are published on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie (except where to do so would identify individuals e.g. centre with one resident).