People with disabilities in large institutions face 'significant differences' to those in smaller settings

Overall, data on 2024 showed 1,655 registered centres offering 9,246 residential places. File photo

Fewer people with disabilities live in large institutions now but they face “significant differences” in their quality of life compared to “happier” people in smaller settings, Hiqa has warned. 

Finbarr Colfer, chief inspector designate with Hiqa, and his colleagues appeared before the Oireachtas committee on disability matters to discuss its overview report on 2024. A key strategy published in 2011 advised closing large institutions and moving people with disabilities into smaller, community settings by 2018.