Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 24 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 24 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 15 centres operated by a number of providers including: Ard Aoibhinn Community Initiatives CLG; Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG; Avista CLG; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Health Service Executive (HSE); SOS Kilkenny CLG; and St Aidan’s Services.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• During the inspection of a centre operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG in Galway, a resident said that they liked coming to the centre for respite and talked about some of the activities that they enjoyed while there. The resident described training for a Special Olympics event and said that they went to training every week which they enjoyed, and that they met friends there.
• At a centre in Kildare operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, there was a mix of younger residents availing of respite services and staff highlighted the importance of the service needing to change and evolve as the residents grew older. Residents enjoyed community activities such as going to the amusements, shopping or visiting the cinema.
• Residents spoke about some of the things they like to do in the centre and the community activities they took part in during an inspection of a centre in Kilkenny operated by SOS Kilkenny CLG. Residents spoke about going out for hot drinks, going swimming, visiting family, farming and watching TV to relax.

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in nine other centres. 
Poor governance impacted on residents at five centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. An urgent action was issued to the provider due to poor management of medications at one centre which posed a risk to residents. Across the remaining centres, improvements were required in fire safety measures, managing residents’ risks, staffing and in residents’ finances and activities.

Poor governance impacted residents at two centres operated by Avista CLG. Poor management of safeguarding incidents impacted residents’ rights and wellbeing at one centre, while improvements were required to the premises of another centre.

At a centre operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland, improvements were required to the premises to ensure the safety of residents. 

Finally, better governance and oversight was required at a centre operated by GALRO Unlimited Company to minimise incidents impacting residents.