Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (582, 589, 615)

Finian McGrath

Question:

582. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) and if he will respond to the issues highlighted [53853/12]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

589. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when the proposed independent inspectors of voluntary and private sector intellectual disability services in this country will commence; when he will publish new regulations on standards regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53894/12]

Clare Daly

Question:

615. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no independent inspections of private or voluntary intellectual disability services here [53997/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 582, 589 and 615 together.

The legislative framework for the registration and inspection of residential services for people with disabilities is provided for by the Health Act 2007. The Act has not yet been commenced in respect of residential services for people with disabilities, consequently the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has, at present, no remit in relation to inspecting these services. The Government is however, committed to ensuring that vulnerable people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected, and that their quality of life is enhanced. With this in mind, the current Programme for Government commits to mandatory standards for this sector and inspection of services by HIQA.

HIQA have developed and published draft National Standards for Residential Centres for People with Disabilities which outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services. A public consultation process has recently been completed by HIQA on the draft standards document and it is now in the process of being finalised and submitted to the Board of the Authority. The final agreed standards will then be forwarded to my Department for approval with an anticipated publication date in January 2013. It is expected that the new regulatory system which will allow for a robust registration and inspection of Residential Centres should be up and running by mid 2013. Work is also continuing in my Department on both the 'Registration and Inspection' regulations and the 'Care and Welfare' regulations required to bring the standards into law. These are being developed taking into account the lessons learned from similar regulations for nursing homes.

My Department has been in active engagement with HIQA on the level of resources and staffing needed. The 10 posts which will enable the Authority commence preparatory work for the registration and inspection regime have already been approved. My Department is continuing discussions with HIQA to determine the longer term staffing and resource requirements and these will be considered further in the context of the Department's 2013 estimates. While the HIQA standards have yet to be put on a statutory footing, it is worth noting that compliance with the HIQA standards is already included in the Service Level Arrangements between the HSE and service providers in the disability sector.

Question No. 583 answered with Question No. 581.