Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2012
81 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the actions that the Health Service Executive has taken to implement the Health Information Quality Authority recommendations on the Gleann Alainn residential unit in Cork. [8078/12]
View answer102 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since the publication of the last Health Information Quality Authority report, the number of children who have been locked in their bedrooms form 7.30 p.m. in the Gleann Alainn, Cork, residential unit; the number of times that restraints have been used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8079/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 102 together.
In October 2011, the Heath Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) conducted an unannounced inspection of Gleann Alainn Special Care Unit. It found at the time of their inspection, that it was in a state of crisis, due primarily to the poor standard of management which impacted negatively on the delivery of care to the children, the day-to-day practices of the staff and the capacity of the unit to fulfil its purpose and function as a special care unit.
In January 2012, HIQA carried out a further inspection. I met with HIQA last week to discuss their findings and I was informed that considerable improvements have been made and majority of their recommendations have been addressed. This inspection report is expected to be published by HIQA by the end of this month.
The HSE has advised me that in the period in question i.e. since the publication of the HIQA report (2nd December), no child has been confined to their bedroom and one child was restrained for a period of one minute.
