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 14 centres operated by a number of providers including: St John of God Community Services CLG; St Joseph's Foundation; St Michael's House; Stewarts Care DAC; Talbot Care Unlimited Company; and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• Residents attended day services and some had local-based employment at a centre in Louth operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. One resident told the inspector they help out in a local chapel once a week, and also enjoyed weekly mindful movement sessions in a local centre. The resident had also recently started pottery classes operated in conjunction with the local education and training board.
• Following completion of human rights training, staff described to the inspector how they upheld residents' rights on a daily basis at a centre in Dublin operated by St Michael's House. A staff member explained how one resident was very interested in elections and how they had assisted them to exercise their right to vote.
• During an inspection of a centre in Kildare operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company, a resident showed the inspector their plan for the week ahead which included swimming, going to the cinema, church and a leisure centre. Another resident had a birthday coming up and explained to the inspector how they had time scheduled to sit down with staff to plan out what they wanted to do for their birthday.
   

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

Poor governance was identified at three centres operated by St Joseph's Foundation. These inspections were part of a targeted inspection programme of the provider’s designated centres. This programme was undertaken due to concerns about overall compliance levels from inspections of the provider’s centres, and other regulatory engagement throughout 2024.

Inspections conducted as part of this programme were unannounced and focussed on specific regulations. Improvements in these centres were required in areas such as residents’ rights, personal planning, the use of restrictive practices and management of  complaints.

At a centre operated by St Michael's House, a review of staffing arrangements was required to ensure consistent support for residents.

Poor governance identified at a centre operated by Trinity Support and Care Services Limited meant that staff did not have access to up-to-date information in order to meet residents’ needs.

Finally, residents’ access to their personal finances and fire safety measures required improvement at a centre operated by the Rehab Group.