Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 29 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 29 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 26 centres operated by a number of providers including: Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peter Bradley Foundation CLG; Praxis Care; Resilience Healthcare Limited; S O S Kilkenny Company Limited by Guarantee; Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; St Hilda's Services; and St John of God Community Services CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Kildare operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited, some residents had paid employment or voluntary work in farming, retail and social care work which they found challenging and enjoyable. One resident was in their final year of a college course and talked with the inspector on how they had been doing very well in their coursework.
• At a centre operated by Praxis Care in Louth, a resident spoke to the inspector about things they enjoyed doing, such as attending sporting events, attending their day service and going out for a drink. A staff member explained that two residents were involved in a local GAA club. The staff member spoke about how involvement in the club had helped the residents meet new people.
• At a centre in Meath operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, residents liked gardening and had grown rhubarb, lettuce and tomatoes in a large polytunnel in the garden. One of the residents was more interested in planting flowers and was responsible for maintaining the flower pots to the front of the property which were really nice. The staff informed the inspector that residents had grown an abundance of lettuce and tomatoes last year, and residents were able to share this with some of their friends.
  Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in three other centres.

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. At one centre, restrictive and institutional practices impacted on residents and improvements were needed in measures to protect against infection. At the remaining centre, fire safety measures required improvement to ensure the safety of residents.

Finally, better fire safety and evacuation planning was required at a centre operated by Peacehaven Trust CLG.