Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 28 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 28 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 15 centres operated by a number of providers including: Nua Healthcare Services Limited; St Christopher's Services CLG; St Hilda's Services; St John of God Community Services CLG; St. Aidan's Day Care Centre CLG; Stewarts Care DAC; The National Association for the Deaf T/A Chime - The National Charity for Deafness and Hearing Loss; The Rehab Group and Waterford Intellectual Disability Association CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Westmeath operated by St Hilda's Services, staff spoke about how recent human rights training had enhanced their awareness of residents’ rights. This, in turn, had resulted in a review of supports around residents’ finances and other areas to further promote residents’ independence.
• At a centre in Wexford operated by St. Aidan's Day Care Centre CLG, residents spoke about how they liked living at the centre with their friends. The inspector observed that the premises was spacious and catered for residents’ needs.
• At a centre in Dublin operated by Stewarts Care DAC, staff actively supported residents’ individual communication and behaviour support needs.  Residents appeared to be comfortable in their home and were supported by staff.

Inspectors identified poor levels of compliance with the regulations and standards in 13 other centres.

Poor governance was identified at three centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited. At two centres, residents were impacted due to restrictions on their movement and access to items. Poor management of risk and living arrangements undermined the safety of residents at these centres.

Poor governance was identified at three centres operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities. Improved arrangements for the management of risks, residents’ finances and staffing was required to ensure that residents’ needs were being met.

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. Residents were negatively affected by staffing, poor risk management and fire safety.

At two centres operated by St Christopher's Services CLG, residents were impacted by the condition of premises and arrangements for the management of medication. Residents’ care needs were impacted due to staffing arrangements at a centre operated by Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability CLG. 

Fire safety measures required improvement to ensure residents’ safety at a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG. Management of restrictive practices that were used to support residents required review at a centre operated by St Michael's House.

Finally, better management of residents’ finances were required at a centre operated by St. Aidan's Day Care Centre CLG.