Anger at shortfalls in disability services

A COMPLETE absence of standards and inspection in disability services in Ireland is similar to shortfalls in childcare, it was claimed yesterday.

Inclusion Ireland, the association for people with intellectual disabilities, said the lack of inspection in crèches and child care, exposed by the Irish Examiner recently, also applied to disability services.

The association is expected to raise the issue with Minister of State for Health Tim O'Malley at its annual general meeting in Limerick this weekend.

Inclusion Ireland chief executive Deirdre Carroll said the report on inspections of crèches had raised worrying issues for parents. She also pointed to the scandal surrounding Leas Cross nursing home, which led to a call for an independent social services inspectorate for homes for the elderly.

"What most people do not know is that vulnerable children and adults with disabilities in residential care in this country have no protection in the form of standards or inspection," Ms Carroll said.

"They are among the most vulnerable groups in our society and experience higher levels of abuse than their non-disabled peers, yet the level of State protection is less. Inclusion Ireland has been calling for an independent inspectorate with powers of enforcement since 1999," she said.

The office of the Inspector of Social Services has yet to be placed on a statutory footing and, therefore, has no powers to inspect residential homes for disabled children. However, Tánaiste Mary Harney recently said she would soon move to give the inspectorate statutory backing.

Yesterday, Ms Carroll urged the Tánaiste to bring forward the bill without delay.

"It has been on the back-burner for far too long and there is no justification for further delay," she said.