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The Journal
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Journal
Child at risk of sexual abuse left on social services waiting list for over 14 months
A CHILD IN Dublin was placed on a wait list for over 14 months after a referral of sexual abuse was made to Tusla, even though a second concern was raised a month after the first referral. It is one of several cases highlighted in an inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), exposing numerous service delays in the Dublin South Central area. The inspection examined progress on case allocation, waitlists, safety planning, and oversight of child protection cases. In the 12 months prior to the inspection, the area received 7,781 child protection and welfare referrals. In the case of the child at risk of sexual abuse, they were placed on a waitlist and classified as 'medium' priority, the HIQA report found, with no adjustment made after the second referral. The report also noted that the child had not been met by child welfare officers, despite internal audits recommending such contact. At the time of the inspection, the child had still not received any therapeutic support. In a separate case flagged by HIQA, a referral alleging physical abuse of a child with complex needs was incorrectly classified as a child welfare concern and prioritised as medium, with gardaí initially not notified. Advertisement In another case involving a one-year-old, clarifying information needed to assess risk had not been sought six months later, leaving the child's wellbeing unestablished. Overall, HIQA found that social services staff in the Dublin South Central area were lacking, as the scale of demand continued to challenge the service. However, HIQA also highlighted that the percentage of unallocated cases had fallen from 54% in February 2024 to 41% at the time of the inspection, and is currently at 34%, which the report described as reflecting 'focused efforts' in the area. Tusla said that cases awaiting allocation are regularly reviewed, with urgent responses provided when necessary. Alamy Alamy In a statement on the inspection, the agency highlighted ongoing reforms, including the Local Integrated Service Delivery Model, designed to improve access to services and support staff. Gerry Hone, Interim Director of Services and Integration at Tusla, said HIQA oversight 'assists us in striving for the best possible standards across our services.' In relation to the child at risk of sexual abuse, he added: 'On this occasion, due in part to challenges relating to rising demand and the capacity of the service to meet this demand, we have not reached those expected standards.' Tusla said that improvements agreed with HIQA following the inspection include better oversight and progression of unallocated cases, allocating additional resources, and implementing a compliance plan for child protection and welfare referrals for children in care. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
IPAS centre provider failed to identify welfare risks
The provider of an International Protection accommodation facility in Dublin failed to identify residents' sleeping arrangements as a welfare risk, according to the Health Information and Quality Authority. An inspection report - one of six published today - states that the sleeping arrangements impacted the dignity and privacy of residents and were not in line with requirements of the Housing Act. When inspectors visited the centre accommodating 231 people at the time, they found 11 families where children aged ten years and above were sharing bedrooms with parents or siblings of a different gender. HIQA has said this had a potential to lead to "accumulative harm" to the children. The report states that the provider had plans to relocate some families to more suitable accommodation within the centre and had "engaged with the relevant Government department" abouts the issue. However, it had not formally identified it as a welfare risk and as a result, the matter was not included on the centre's risk register. Despite this, the report states that the service actively supported the educational and recreational needs of children in the centre, and this was supported by centre policy. At the time of the inspection, all school-going children had school placements and child-friendly spaces for play and schoolwork, such as the after-school club, teenagers' play room, and play area for children had been established. In contrast, another centre in Kerry with 69 residents had limited facilities available for children. Toys and books were available in communal areas, however, HIQA found that the dedicated space for children to play or complete homework was not suitable or safe. While residents said they were treated with respect in the Co Kerry centre, the report says the management team was not aware of responsibilities in terms of notifying safeguarding incidents to HIQA. Inspectors found that one "serious safeguarding incident" had been recorded but not notified to the regulator, despite this being a requirement. Ultimately, a process ensuring adverse events were reported had been established, but was not followed. Providers in charge of the two centres were required to submit compliance plans to demonstrate how they would make improvements to ensure compliance with the national standards. HIQA found that the four remaining centres located in Galway, Waterford and Cork were compliant in all standards.
Irish Examiner
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
More IPAS centres closed in last seven months than entirety of 2024
There have been 12 international protection accommodation (IPAS) centres closed in the last seven months, more than three times the number that were closed in all of 2024. The rise in closures comes amid concerns about the quality of accommodation provided for asylum seekers and poor governance structures. A total of 490 beds have been removed from the system due to the closures, which the department of justice said is due to issues of non-compliance with regulations or contractual breaches. The figures from the department are up to late July. There have been more IPAS contracts terminated over the last seven months than in the previous three years combined, with just one contract ended in each of 2022 and 2023 due to non-compliance. 'In all instances where the department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all standards at the property are within legal requirements, including but not limited to health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance,' a spokesperson for the department said. When a contract is ended, all asylum seekers living in the impacted centres are moved to a new location. IPAS centres are subject to inspection and compliance checks throughout the lifetime of their contract. The department also considers information brought to our attention about potential breaches of contracts or a reduction in the contractual standards required, and we take appropriate action if necessary. 'Resident welfare clinics and management support clinics are also routinely conducted in all accommodation settings. These clinics also serve to confirm standards are being met and maintained.' There are currently 50 formal centres in operation around the country, which are accommodating 6,447 asylum seekers. Of those, there are 2,119 children. This does not include the 25,221 international protection applicants who are currently staying in emergency IPAS accommodation, or the 398 who are living in tented accommodation. In total, across the State, there were a total of 32,689 people living in IPAS accommodation at the end of June. Migrants rights non-profit Doras chief executive John Lannon said there are concerns about the quality of accommodation being provided for international protection applicants. 'When it comes to the emergency or temporary accommodation centres, there are certainly worrying levels of poor governance. In places, poor service delivery. There's insufficient oversight of standards,' Mr Lannon said. He raised concerns that the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) do not have the mandate to inspect emergency IPAS centres operating across the country. Mr Lannon said centres had been opened on a 'very ad hoc basis' and that some are now being closed, but beyond a notice of non-compliance there is little information as to why centres have been shuttered. Even on the most basic level, it would seem that they weren't fit for purpose, but they have a lot of other centres that we would argue are not fit for purpose either. Mr Lannon criticised the housing of some international protection applicants in tents, saying it has become 'normalised' in recent years. 'That's not adequate or appropriate. It never has been,' Mr Lannon said. He called for the Government to expand the remit of Hiqa and allow the regulator to inspect emergency IPAS sites, saying the standards of accommodation must meet levels set out by EU directive. Sinn Féin justice spokesman Matt Carthy said there are 'long-standing' concerns related to the granting of contracts for IPAS centres, particularly issues surrounding profiteering. Mr Carthy, who received the information via parliamentary question, said the 'sharp rise' in contracts being terminated for non-compliance was concerning. 'This is very significant and suggests that there wasn't sufficient checks before contracts were granted to those seeking to profit from the governments failures in relation to international protection,' Mr Carthy said. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said justice minister Jim O'Callaghan should provide more details surrounding the closure of the centres, calling for the Government to outline what the non-compliance issues were for each centre.
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
17 beds at a Cork nursing home remain closed due to ‘HIQA paperwork', local politician claims
Seventeen beds remain closed at a Bantry nursing home because the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is 'dragging its heels,' according to a West Cork Councillor. Cllr Danny Collins put forward a motion at this week's meeting of the West Cork Municipal District calling on Cork County Council to write to HIQA to reopen the closed beds at Aperee Living Nursing Home in Seafield, Bantry. A receiver was appointed to the nursing home in July last year and it was one of five nursing homes operated by the Aperee Living group in Cork, Galway and Kilkenny put up for sale last autumn. Aperee Living was under pressure to meet regulatory standards at a number of its properties, leading to the closure of some and the HSE taking over the running of others. A HIQA report based on inspections carried out last year found the Bantry nursing home non-compliant in the areas of fire precautions, governance and management, and statement of purpose. Cllr Collins told the Irish Independent that the receiver has dealt with those issues and now it's up to HIQA to sign off on them to allow the empty beds to be opened to patients. 'So basically what happened here from day one is that HIQA has been dragging their heels to be quite honest. It's been going on for seven to eight months. The receiver did all the work that had to be done, they were finished by Christmas. And everything was passed by fire officers. And now it's just paperwork really. That's what's holding it up.' The Independent Ireland Councillor said the issue is exacerbating the shortage of nursing home beds in West Cork. 'At the moment we have 24 residents staying there, but there's 17 empty beds. A week hardly passes without either I or [West Cork TD] Michael Collins' office getting one or two people looking for beds,' he told this newspaper. Cllr Collins spoke of an elderly man who has to travel from West Cork to a nursing home in Kenmare to see his wife because there isn't a place available closer to home. 'It's a long journey for him to do, but if she was living in Bantry, he could call to her every morning or every evening.' The Bantry Councillor said he understands there is a buyer interested in buying the Seafield nursing home, but 'he's not going to buy unless everything is signed off. The ball is in HIQA's court. This could be all sorted out if they sat down around the table.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
RTÉ News
02-07-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Emeis Ireland pauses all nursing home admissions
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has said that Emeis Ireland, the nursing home group which operates the two care centres featured in the RTÉ Investigates programme last month, has paused admissions to all 25 homes it runs in Ireland. An interim report published by HIQA outlines the regulatory history of the 25 centres, and details how it had to place restrictions on the operations of seven of the 25 homes as they failed to comply with regulations. The authority says at the Residence Portlaoise, which featured in the RTÉ Investigates programme, it had to issue "a formal letter warning of prosecution if the provider admitted any new residents and the condition was breached again", after it received information that the operator had not ceased admissions on 22 April as ordered. This followed a restrictive condition issued to the home after failings in care were discovered during inspections in October 2024, and in February this year. At the other home featured in the programme, Firstcare Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin in Dublin had a "chequered history of regulatory compliance" since 2021. It notes that in that year the home "voluntarily stopped admissions" and "also recognised that they were admitting residents whose needs they could not meet and agreed to review this". It says there was improvement in 2022, but an inspection in July 2023 found these were not sustained. A series of subsequent inspections led to improvements seen in an inspection in November last year. HIQA says The Residence Carton in Raheny, Dublin 6, which changed its name from TLC Carton in 2024, "has a history of poor compliance with the regulations, specifically regarding Governance and Management and Infection Prevention and Control". After several meetings with the provider, HIQA issued a letter last year warning it would cancel registration for the home unless issues were addressed "in a timely manner". It also issued a Notice of Proposed Decision which would have prevented the home admitting any patients, but this was not proceeded with, after the company issued a robust plan to address the issues and follow up inspection identified that improvements had been made. At the Belmont Private Nursing Home in Stillorgan, Co Dublin HIQA attached a restrictive condition in June 2022 "because the size and layout of all bedroom accommodation in the nursing home did not support the privacy and dignity of the residents living in these shared rooms". This was removed in October 2023 when the provider had complied with the requirements of the order. But an unannounced visit to the nursing home in January 2024 identified non compliance on infection prevention and control, premises and fire precautions. There was a cautionary meeting after which the management reduced the number of residents to enhance the lived experience of patients. At the Brookvale Manor Private Nursing Home in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, HIQA attached a restrictive condition in 2021 to reduce the number of residents from 57 to 37 to ensure that "residents are in receipt of appropriate care and support" and "the management team in place for the centre knows what a good service looks like and can ensure the delivery of that service". The restriction was removed in October 2023 and "The registered provider has sustained the improvements that were implements (sic) as evidenced by the findings of the most recent inspection in March 2025." At the Residence Citywest, in Fortunestown, Dublin 24, inspectors found during a visit in 2022 that the provider, Cubedale Limited, "was not complying with key regulations which underpin the care of residents: governance and management, oversight of the day to day operation of the nursing home, staffing and residents rights resulted in escalating regulatory engagement". There were two subsequent unannounced visits "before inspectors could be satisfied that Cubedale Limited was on a pathway to improved regulatory compliance and that the care of residents was improving." The most recent inspection in August 2024 "evidenced good levels of compliance with regulations, and residents and families expressed their satisfaction with the service in the nursing home. Staff and resident interactions were found to be positive and respectful," the report said. Maynooth Lodge Nursing Home in Co Kildare "has had an inconsistent history of regulatory compliance arising out of an unstable governance and management structure, insufficient staffing resources at times and ineffective service oversight." The report notes that "since 2021 there have been seven changes in the person in charge". Inspectors were sufficiently concerned to require weekly updates on staffing levels from October 2021 to March 2022. There was an improvement in March 2022, leading to an increase in the number of beds permitted at the home in May of that year. But then "subsequent risk inspections carried out on foot of unsolicited information in 2023 found a gradual decline in compliance and that the improvements previously observed were not sustained in the long-term." Inspections last year found "improving levels of compliance". The Residence Ashbourne, in Co Meath, "has had a history of non-compliance with regulations which resulted in escalating regulatory action and the addition of a restrictive condition to the registration of the designated centre." But HIQA reports the registered provider has since 2022 "continued on an improved trajectory of regulatory compliance across most regulations. Concerns in respect of premises and infection control were effectively addressed." 'Work in progress' HIQA says The Residence in Santry, Co Dublin, has "a chequered history of compliance over the past five years." Inspectors have found "sustained good levels of care and clinical oversight with good regulatory compliance," but also "significant and repeated concerns in respect of the governance and management and oversight of premises and fire safety persisted, which led to escalating regulatory action". This led to the number of beds at the centre being reduced from 128 in 2023 to 94 in 2024. That restrictive condition was removed last October when specific issues were addressed. HIQA says a programme of renovations "remains a work in progress" but inspectors could see improvements with the most recent announced inspection in June. The RTÉ Investigates programme, broadcast on 4 June, uncovered multiple examples of care failings and neglect of vulnerable older residents at the two nursing homes, run by Emeis Ireland. An interim HIQA report published on 17 June revealed hundreds of cases of alleged or confirmed abuse at Firstcare Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin in Co Dublin since June 2022 and at The Residence Portlaoise since December 2023. The report said a high number of notifications "does not necessarily indicate a non-compliant service, and often means a strong culture of recognising and submitting incidents which fall into the required notification categories".
