Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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827. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 678 of 8 February 2022, if HIQA has taken action in relation to the residential nursing homes or designated residential disability centres that did not report the six situations of alleged sexual abuse allegations to An Garda Síochána which subsequently HIQA did report to An Garda Síochána; the nature and outcome of such actions by HIQA with each individual home or centre; if mandatory reporting will be introduced for such incidents in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9822/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Health Information and Quality Authority that in six situations since 2015, inspectors found that the provider of a designated centre had not made an appropriate referral to An Garda Síochána. HIQA subsequently referred these allegations to An Garda Síochána.

It is important to note that these referrals were in addition to the measures taken by HIQA requiring the provider to implement actions to ensure the safety of residents. All safeguarding issues are reviewed as a matter of priority to determine the most appropriate regulatory action. In situations where substantiated safeguarding issues are identified, providers are required to take action to ensure the safety of residents. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, providers must take immediate action to address these issues and to prevent a recurrence.

In all situations, including the six referred to above, the Chief Inspector continues to monitor the actions of the provider to ensure they are effective in addressing the safeguarding concerns. The Chief Inspector can, and has, taken further action, up to and including the cancellation of registration, where providers fail to sustain improvements to residents’ safety.

Significant work is ongoing to develop a national policy on adult safeguarding in the health sector. It is expected that the policy will address, inter alia, appropriate reporting arrangements. Legislation as required to underpin the policy will be prepared subject to its approval by Government.

I would like to acknowledge my appreciation for HIQA’s participation in and important ongoing contribution to the high-level Steering Group which was established to assist and advise my Department in its development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector and I welcome the Authority’s strong support in this regard.