One of the larger service providers in the State for people with a disability, which faced the possible closure of some of its centres over serious concerns for residents, will now apply to register its newly reconfigured campus after a positive inspection report by health watchdog HIQA.

A report into a centre for people with disabilities reveals that staff arrived to work there on the morning of an inspection not knowing what shift they were on and organising the roster among themselves, a situation that contributed to “an unacceptable level of risk to residents” at the facility.

In the 11 years since it was established to regulate and monitor the quality of residential care in centres for children, older people, or people with disabilities, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has uncovered some unacceptable practices and condemned buildings no longer fit for purpose.

The first set of inspection reports in relation to services for people with disabilities reveal the health watchdog was notified of allegations of abuse at one Dublin-based centre late last year.