Vol. 577 No. 4
231 Mr. Grealish asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has a regulatory or inspection function in relation to the residential part of the Holy Family school, Renmore, Galway; if the State has a legal liability in relation to this institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31492/03]
The enactment in April 2002 of the Children Act 2001, section 267, amending section 59 of the Child Care Act 1991, brought residential centres for children with a disability within the remit of inspection. As with other children's residential centres, the social services inspectorate will inspect those centres run by health boards and the non-statutory sector will be subject to the requirements of registration and inspection by the health boards in which they are located.
Responsibility for the provision of services to persons with intellectual disability or autism in the Galway region lies with the Western Health Board and my Department does not have a direct inspection role in relation to the school mentioned by the Deputy. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
