The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent Authority responsible for driving continuous improvements in Ireland’s health and social care services. The Authority published the Draft National Quality Standards: Residential Services for People with Disabilities in September 2008. These Standards set out what a quality, safe service for people with disabilities in a residential service should be.

As part of its ongoing programme of consultation and engagement, the Authority ran a series of focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders, and invited the general public and interested parties to submit their views on these draft standards. The closing date for submissions was 31 October 2008. Over the course of this consultation, over 100 submissions from both private individuals and representative organisations were received. In keeping with its remit under the Health Act, and in light of submissions received, the proposed amendments which emerged from the public consultation were considered by the group that drew up the standards and the standards were amended before being finalised by the board of the Authority. A Statement of Outcomes from this public consultation has been prepared.

The Authority would like to thank all who contributed to the public consultation on these draft standards.

The final Standards are now available.