Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 35 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 35 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 23 centres operated by a number of providers including; KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Muiríosa Foundation, MyLife by Estrela Hall Limited Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Peter Bradley Foundation CLG, Praxis Care, Prosper Fingal CLG, Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company, Resilience Healthcare Limited, St Christopher's Services CLG, St Joseph's Foundation, St Michael's House, Stewarts Care DAC, the Rehab Group, Waterford Intellectual Disability Association CLG, and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Waterford operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited, the inspector observed that a rights-based approach was taken to supporting residents which included respecting residents' rights to individuality, choice, respect, capability, relationships, community inclusion, personal expression, safety and wellbeing.
• At a centre in Dublin operated by Praxis Care, residents and their representatives were consulted and communicated with about decisions regarding their care and the running of the house. Regular meetings took place in relation to residents’ needs, preferences and choices regarding activities and meals. 
• At a centre in Galway operated by the Rehab Group, residents had allocated staff support hours which supported them to do their activities of choice. Residents were also supported to maintain personal relationships with their family and friends including regularly meeting up and regularly going on visits. 

Inspectors identified poor levels of compliance with the regulations and standards in 12 centres operated by six providers. 

At six centres operated by Ability West, poor governance and management arrangements were impacting on residents’ day-to-day lives. This resulted in poor management of risk, and failure to meet residents’ health and personal rights and care plans, fire safety and measures to protect against infection. 

The Chief Inspector has had ongoing concerns about the impact of poor governance on the lives of residents in a number of centres operated by Ability West. A six month regulatory escalation programme across all of the provider’s centres has now concluded and there has not been sufficient improvement in governance and management in the organisation. The Chief Inspector cancelled the registration of one of the provider’s centres in September 2023 and the Health Service Executive took responsibility for the operation of the centre from that date. The Chief Inspector has also issued notices of proposal to cancel the registration of three further centres whose reports have been published today. Under the Health Act 2007, the provider has a legal right to make representation to the Chief Inspector within 28 days before a final decision is made on whether to proceed with cancelling the registrations of those centres. Inspectors continue to monitor the quality of care and support being provided to residents in those centres. 

Residents’ rights and choices were not respected at a centre operated by Muiríosa Foundation. In addition, improvements were needed in fire safety, staffing, and managing risks. 

Improvements were needed in two centres operated by the Rehab Group in areas such as managing risks, fire safety, measures to protect against infection, and the premises.

Measures to manage risks for residents required improvement at a centre operated by Redwood Neurobehavioural Services Unlimited Company. At a centre operated by St Michael’s House, the management of medications and premises were negatively impacting on residents and required improvement.

Finally, fire safety and staff training required improvement at a centre operated by St Christopher's Services CLG.