Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2018
383. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, has the legislative authority to do site visits, monitor, assess and report on service delivery within direct provision centres; the amount of reports HIQA has produced on conditions within direct provision centres from 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53877/18]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent authority established to drive high-quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. HIQA’s role is to develop standards, inspect and review health and social care services and support informed decisions on how services are delivered.
HIQA is a statutory body established under the Health Act 2007 which, legislates its powers and functions. The Act defines the relevant services in relation to HIQAs regulatory function which comprise of services provided by the Health Service Executive; the Child and Family Agency -Tusla; a service provider as defined in accordance with the Health Acts 1947 to 2011, the Child Care Acts 1991 to 2013 or the Children Act 2001; and nursing homes as defined in section 2 of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990. HIQA is also responsible for registering and inspecting designated centres.
HIQA has four distinct pillars under which it has programmes of regulation and monitoring, encompassing older people’s services, disability services, children’s services and health. The responsibility for the administration of direct provision centres comes within the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality. The remit for the regulation of these services is not among the responsibilities assigned to HIQA under the Health Act 2007
HIQA has published one report which relates to direction provision centres, in May 2015. This report was focused on the child protection and welfare services that were being provided to children living in direct provision accommodation by Tusla in four of its service areas - Louth/Meath, the Midlands, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan and Dublin North City.
