Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 23 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 23 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 11 centres operated by a number of providers including: St John of God Community Services CLG; St Michael's House; Stewarts Care DAC; Talbot Care Unlimited Company; The Rehab Group and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Louth operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, residents’ rights were protected and promoted. A staff member described how residents expressed their rights by choosing their own activities, and a resident spoke about their bedroom being private and how no one could enter it without their permission.
• At a centre in Dublin operated by St Michael's House, residents were supported to engage in meaningful activities and were observed making plans with staff for community-based activities during the inspection. The centre had its own transport and was also located in close walking distance to a range of local amenities which residents could enjoy. 
• At a centre operated by The Rehab Group in Cork, residents were consulted by staff about the day-to-day operations of the centre and their opinions were incorporated into reviews of the care and support provided at the centre. Residents were observed to be very comfortable in the company of staff and interacted with them in a jovial manner.

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in 12 other centres.

Poor governance was identified at three centres operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG, with improvements being required in areas such as fire safety, premises, and measures to protect residents from infection.

Inspectors identified instances of poor governance at three centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. At one centre, an urgent action was issued to the provider due to poor fire safety measures which posed a risk to residents and had been identified during a previous inspection. At the remaining two centres, improvements were needed in the premises and to fire safety measures.

At two centres operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, improvements were needed in different areas such as fire safety and the admissions policy for residents.

Safeguarding incidents and their impact on residents were identified at a centre operated by St Michael's House. Better staffing was required to ensure that residents’ needs were met at a centre operated by The Rehab Group. 

Finally, better fire safety measures were needed to protect residents at a centre operated by Stewarts Care DAC and another centre operated by The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland.