St Raphael's centre closed after damning HIQA report

A residential centre for people with disabilities in Co Kildare has been closed by St John of God Services after a damning inspection report from HIQA.

Residents from two other centres have also been moved.

The centres are on the St Raphael's campus in Celbridge, which is home to 137 people with intellectual disabilities.

HIQA inspections early last year prompted significant concerns about residents' safety and quality of life.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had also expressed concerns, saying St Raphael's had inadequate staffing levels and an inappropriate skill-mix.

CEO of Inclusion Ireland Paddy Connolly said some improvements were made, but that they did not go far enough.

He said: "HIQA inspections start in late 2013, so we're well over two years into the process, and there was a lead-in time of about a year and a half before inspections commenced.

"Some of the reports say that a number of measures were taken in terms of changes in management and (other) improvements, but clearly they haven't gone far enough."