Residents at a centre for people with disabilities in Co Donegal were put at “significant risk” due to governance issues, according to the health safety watchdog.
Non-compliance impacting on the delivery of care and support to residents was identified in 11 centres, according to several inspection reports published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) on Thursday.
Poor governance affected residents at three centres operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE), including Ballytrim House in Co Donegal, Hiqa said.
“Significant failings in relation to the governance and management of this service were identified on inspection,” the report noted.
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“This created significant risks to residents, impacted on their quality of life and their human rights.
“Inspectors were not assured that residents were kept safe in this centre. Inspectors found significant risk to one resident in relation to their living arrangements.”
An unannounced inspection was carried out at the centre on April 24th, 2025. An urgent action was issued to the HSE to “address immediate risks facing residents and improve the suitability of the premises for residents’ needs”.
In two other HSE centres, Moy Services in Co Mayo and Meadowview in Co Sligo, improvements were required in “minimising safeguarding incidents and staff training”.
A spokesperson for HSE West and North said a number of actions were “underway to address areas of improvement identified in the reports”.
In relation to Ballytrim House in particular, the spokesperson said the HSE was “actively working to implement all the recommendations outlined in the report to ensure full compliance with the regulations”.
All safeguarding plans in the centre have been “reviewed and implemented”, the statement added.
“The person in charge has put in place a number of measures to ensure compliance with this regulation. This includes relocating one resident to an identified annex within the centre with approved padding and a second resident to the opposite annex area.”
Poor governance also impacted residents at a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG in Co Wicklow, Hiqa inspectors found.
“The provider had not protected residents from all forms of abuse or upheld residents’ rights to quality of life or wellbeing at the centre,” the report noted.
An unannounced inspection was carried out at the centre on April 29th.
Efforts were being made by management to improve the situation, the report noted.
The Irish Times has contacted Sunbeam House Services for comment.
An urgent action was also issued to Barróg Healthcare Limited to improve governance at its Baile Gael residential service in Cork, following an inspection on April 16th in which “significant concerns were identified” related to fire safety and other issues.
“A number of concerns were identified with the premises relating to its layout, drainage, ventilation and fire safety systems provided amongst others,” Hiqa said.
“Improvements were required in fire safety measures, risk management procedures and the premises.”
A spokesperson for Barróg Healthcare told The Irish Times the Baile Gael service “has successfully completed all required actions to return to full compliance following the inspection in April”.
“Since the inspection, Barróg has taken decisive steps to address the matters raised, including significant upgrades to fire safety systems, drainage infrastructure, electrical works, and internal layout,” the statement noted.
The statement added that the facility is “committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and compliance moving forward”.
Of the 27 inspection reports published on Thursday, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 16 centres.
