414. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider amending the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities Regulations 2013 to require designated centres for people with disabilities to facilitate access to independency advocacy services for adults residing in those centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39025/24]

I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

This Government takes matters safeguarding and risk of harm in disability residential centres very seriously, and considers safeguarding adults at risk against abuse to be of paramount importance.

As this query relates to regulatory matters, I requested for officials in my Department to make enquiries with The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HIQA have advised the Department of the following:

Regulation 9: Residents’ rights in both the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013, Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities Regulations 2013 include a provision requiring providers to ensure residents have access to advocacy services.

HIQA report that most providers engage positively with advocacy services, although regulations do not set out the type of advocacy service that should be available or require provider engagement with advocacy services.