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 16 centres operated by a number of providers including: Ability West; Avista CLG; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Health Service Executive (HSE); Horizons; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peter Bradley Foundation CLG; Resilience Healthcare Limited; S O S Kilkenny CLG Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; Talbot Care Unlimited Company; and the Rehab Group.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• During an inspection of a centre in Galway operated by Ability West, the inspector was told by one resident about how they enjoyed being able to decide and make choices on the activities and day trips they did on a daily basis. They enjoyed eating out, going to the pub, feeding wildlife, attending music events, aeroplane watching, and trips on buses, trains and boats. They also spoke about looking forward to a planned boat trip on the river and attending an upcoming disco.
• A resident showed the inspector some of the artwork they were working on and chatted about current affairs and politics at a centre in Tipperary operated by Avista CLG. The resident was very happy in their home and spoke about upcoming staff changes within the organisation. It was evident the resident was well informed of events happening within the designated centre and the organisation.
• Residents’ rights were promoted at a centre in Kilkenny operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities. A resident took part in the provider’s service user council as the residents’ representative and said they could raise concerns with the chief executive officer, who attended these council meetings. The service user council organised service-wide initiatives for residents, including the promotion of a current charitable initiative and arranging summer events.

Non-compliance that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents was identified in 11 other centres. 

Poor governance impacted on residents at three centres operated by the HSE. An urgent action was issued to the provider to address immediate risks facing residents and improve the suitability of the premises for residents’ needs. In the remaining two HSE centres, improvements were required in minimising safeguarding incidents and staff training.

Poor governance impacted residents at a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG. The provider had not protected residents from all forms of abuse or upheld residents’ rights to quality of life or wellbeing at the centre. An urgent action was issued to Barróg Healthcare Limited to improve governance at one centre to ensure residents’ needs were met. Improvements were required in fire safety measures, risk management procedures and the premises.

At two centres operated by Avista CLG improvements were required in advancing residents’ rights and staffing arrangements to meet residents’ needs. Improvements were required in the premises and overall governance at two centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG.

At a centre operated by the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, improvements were required to the management of risks within the centre. Finally, improvements were required in overall governance, staff training and residents’ personal plans at a centre operated by the Rehab Group.