He said members made a slew of recommendations to improve adult safeguarding in such settings. “Witnesses emphasised that these are not solely historical matters, but issues affecting disabled people living in congregated and institutional settings today,” said Mr Quinlivan. “Concerns were raised regarding the absence of comprehensive adult safeguarding legislation, delays in implementing protection of liberty safeguards, inconsistent safeguarding practices across services, barriers to complaints and reporting, and the lack of accessible participation for disabled people, particularly nonspeaking people and people with intellectual disabilities.” Committee’s
recommendations The committee has made recommendations under nine headings in the letter sent to the ministers for housing, justice, health, children, education, as well as the minister of state with responsibility for disability. During its hearings, the committee was addressed by disability rights activists as well as the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. It said the evidence it heard noted that institutionalisation itself creates conditions in which abuse can flourish by limiting autonomy, concentrating power, and
isolating people from community life. Safeguarding One of the recommendations is that comprehensive safeguarding legislation be progressed as a matter of urgency. The committee said this legislation must provide clear safeguarding duties, accountability mechanisms, oversight powers, and enforcement provisions. Alongside that, it said the Government should prioritise the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill, and extend its scope to health and social care settings. “[The Government should] strengthen inspection, monitoring, and oversight systems across disability and residential services, [and] ensure effective implementation and monitoring of
safeguarding and inquiry recommendations,” said the committee. It also called for mandatory safeguarding, disability rights, trauma-informed, and human rights training across all relevant sectors, in a way that supports dignity, autonomy, participation, and inclusion. “The committee emphasises that safeguarding must be understood not solely as protection from harm, but as the creation of conditions in which disabled people can exercise autonomy, choice, dignity, and full participation in society,” it said. “The committee further emphasises the importance of meaningful consultation and participation of disabled people, representative
organisations, advocacy bodies, and survivors in the development and implementation of all safeguarding, disability, and justice reforms.” Disabled people placed far from home It added that there must be zero tolerance for violence, abuse, neglect, coercion, or institutional harm against disabled people in any setting. It comes after the Irish Examiner revealed last week that more than 600 of the almost 9,000 people living with an intellectual disability in such a residence are placed outside the county where they grew up, or where their parents
or support community is based. At least 193 of them live more than 100km from their home. And more than 300 have been living distant from their home locality for more than five years. Housing for people with disabilities Separately, the Government is plotting a ‘game-changing’ approach to housing for people with disabilities which will require local authorities, for the first time, to set targets for delivering social housing for disabled people who are able to live more independently in the community with some supports
and those who need specialist 24/7 wraparound supports. Disability minister Norma Foley has confirmed that these targets will be contained in the Local Authority Housing Delivery Action Plans 2027-2030, which will be published in the coming months. Elaine Loughlin is the Irish Examiner’s Political Editor
adult safeguarding, disabled people, Oireachtas committee, inspection of places of detention, Local Authority Housing Delivery Action Plans 2027-2030, protection of liberty safeguards, intellectual disability housing