Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 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 20 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 15 centres operated by a number of providers including: GALRO Unlimited Company; Health Service Executive (HSE); Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peamount Healthcare; and Praxis Care.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Westmeath operated by GALRO Unlimited Company, staff said that human rights training helped them focus on promoting choices and ensured that residents' rights were upheld. They gave an example of how they had supported residents to vote in recent elections.
• Residents at a centre operated by the HSE in Donegal were well integrated into the community with residents being supported to take part in activities locally. Residents were excited to show inspectors photographs of an award ceremony they had attended with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland which recognised their community integration. They also spoke about how they enjoyed the overnight stay in Dublin to attend the ceremony.
• At a respite centre operated by Praxis Care in Louth, residents had access to a range of communal rooms for different activities such as art, beauty treatments and games such as snooker. Residents spoke about how they enjoyed using the rooms during their stays at the centre and also choose other activities they enjoyed such as going to the gym. 

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in five other centres. 

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by L'Arche Ireland. Inspectors found poor oversight of residents’ finances and improvements were needed in managing risks and supporting residents’ needs. 

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by the HSE. Improvements were required in staffing to support residents and in the management of residents’ finances.

At a centre operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, improvements were needed to the premises to ensure all residents’ needs were being met.