Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. HIQA inspects against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, which apply to residential services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 
Of these 27 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres operated by a number of providers including: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Camphill Communities of Ireland
Cheeverstown House CLG; Clann Mór Residential and Respite CLG; Embrace Community Services Ltd; Health Service Executive (HSE); KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Kerry Senior Care Ltd t/a Dovida; and Nua Healthcare Services Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• A review of financial records and daily notes highlighted that residents had fulfilling lives, during an inspection of a centre in Galway operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Two residents had gone for an overnight hotel stay in Kerry which previously would have proved difficult to achieve due to their individual care needs. Staff said that both residents had really enjoyed their break away. Residents also enjoyed local discos and regularly went to the cinema and local restaurants.
• At a centre in Meath operated by Clann Mór Residential and Respite CLG, residents enjoyed many activities such as cooking, gym visits, yoga, family home visits, dining out, pub visits, playing pool, bowling, and listening to music. A goal for one of the residents was to complete their driver theory test, which they were actively striving to achieve. The provider had an advocacy group which met on a regular basis and residents attended meetings to provide their views on the service and advocate for their peers. Another resident was engaged in a national project regarding transition arrangements for people with disabilities to designated centres. The resident told the inspector that their own life experience of moving to the centre had greatly assisted them in contributing to the work of the group.
• Residents described the activity programmes they were engaged in, during an inspection of a HSE-operated centre in Sligo. One resident preferred to have their activities with the support of staff and they went into the town shopping and had lunch out. One resident said they could independently get public transport to visit their family and they did this often. They explained they had a mobile phone and used it to keep in touch with staff.

Non-compliance that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents was identified in seven other centres. 

Poor governance impacted upon residents at a centre operated by Horizons. An urgent action was issued to the provider to improve fire safety measures and ensure residents’ safety. In addition, improvements were required in staffing and staff training.

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by Muiríosa Foundation. Improvements were required in residents’ personal finances, fire safety measures, premises and in measures to protect against infection.

At a centre operated by CoAction West Cork CLG, improvements were required to the premises and in fire safety measures to protect residents. Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG with improvements needed in staff training and premises. 

Finally, improvements were required in measures to protect against infection and overall governance at a centre operated by the HSE.