December 2010

Do we need a Primetime to get standards and inspection in disability services?

• No inspectors currently enter services for people with an intellectual disability; €10 million to bring in basic regime of inspection– ¼ of AIB bonuses;
• Inclusion Ireland calls on Government for immediate introduction of inspections and for Opposition to make same commitment if they enter Government;

Despite harrowing abuse reports, presentations to Oireachtas committees and numerous media reports, children and adults with an intellectual disability remain in unregulated, uninspected services, paid for by the State. What will it take for inspection of disability services?

Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll says:

“TDs, Senators and Government Ministers will today express horror and surprise at the lack of regulation in home care providers, and rightly so. But they must remember another vulnerable group of adults and children who remain in uninspected, unregulated services – people with a disability. Do we need more reports on abuse, or an investigative television programme before we see action?

“Oireachtas members cannot claim ignorance on this issue: Inclusion Ireland has brought it to their attention on countless occasions, including a presentation to the Oireachtas Health Committee in December 2008. The Health Information and Quality Authority drew up standards for disability services that were published in May 2009. However, it was then announced that standards for adults were only to be brought in on a voluntary basis, and there would be no inspection of services. This means there is no obligation to abide by standards, no monitoring system and no means of enforcement. Government promised separate standards and inspection of services for children with a disability that are due to be brought in, in early 2011.

“It would cost about €10 million to bring in a basic regime of inspection of adult disability services – a quarter of what AIB was due to pay in bonuses. But it is not a Government priority - what does this say about the Government’s attitude towards people with a disability?

“Inclusion Ireland today calls on the current Government to immediately bring in statutory standards and inspection of disability services for children and adults, and for opposition parties to commit to bringing in a regime if they are in Government.”

ENDS

 

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