Almost 4,000 safeguarding concerns raised in adult disability services in first half of year

Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide said the scale of the figures was 'deeply concerning'.

There were nearly 4,000 safeguarding concerns raised within adult disability services over the first six months of this year, new HSE data shows.

The 3,935 concerns raised as of the end of June compares to 5,621 which were raised across the entirety of 2025.

Safeguarding issues arise when concerns are raised about possible neglect or abuse of a vulnerable adult. This can include physical or psychological abuse, as well as sexual abuse, financial abuse and institutional abuse.

The information, provided by the HSE via parliamentary question to Social Democrats TD for Cork East Liam Quaide, also details 830 concerns recorded in 2026 remained open at the end of June.

The data also shows there were 431 notifications made to gardaí from closed safeguarding cases in 2025, with a further 297 notifications made in the first six months of 2026.

Mr Quaide said the scale of the figures was “deeply concerning”, particularly pointing to “gaps in oversight”.

“Without an independent statutory safeguarding authority, we cannot be confident that concerns are being reported and acted on consistently across all providers,” Mr Quaide said.

He also highlighted these concerns could not be distinguished between privately run adult disability services and those run on either a voluntary or not-for-profit basis.

Mr Quaide said the case for introducing an independent safeguarding authority was “overwhelming”.

Chair of Safeguarding Ireland Patricia Rickard-Clarke said the high level of concerns raised by the HSE showed “Ireland does not currently have adequate structures in place to deliver adult safeguarding and to prevent adult abuse”.

Ms Rickard-Clarke said there should be cross-sectoral legislation introduced to improve adult safeguarding, saying such a move would be “transformative”, as it would introduce legally binding and stronger safeguarding practices.

“Underpinning safeguarding standards in law and making failure to deliver these convictable offences is the priority action to take to strengthen safeguarding and to prevent and reduce adult abuse,” Ms Rickard-Clarke said.

In its response to Mr Quaide, the HSE said there was “zero tolerance to all forms of abuse”, with any concerns being raised with the HSE’s safeguarding teams.

It confirmed when concerns were raised, the HSE would carry out a preliminary screening to examine the information and context of the safeguarding concern.

“As part of a preliminary screening assessment, an outcome is determined and where required a safeguarding plan is implemented,” the HSE said.

However, the HSE did say referrals to Gardaí should be treated with “caution”, as the data is only recorded at the point of cases being closed.