Full registration of designated centres for people with disabilities will be concluded by the end of the month according to Hiqa (Health Information and Quality Authority).

The Health Act 2007 allowed for three years to complete this registration but Finbarr Colfer of Hiqa commented this morning that it quickly became apparent that more time would be needed when the regulation commenced in November 2013.

“This was the first time that services within the disability sector were regulated,” he explained.

“When regulation commenced in November 2013, there were 927 designated centres for people with disabilities.

“The initial period was a time of learning for all, and it became apparent very quickly that providers required more than the initial three years allowed for in the Health Act 2007 to achieve registration,” he said.

Act amended

The Act was amended to provide a further two years for registering all centres, with the first cycle of registration coming to an end this month. 

Hiqa now says that the remaining few centres to be registered are progressing and they are “engaging intensively with the relevant providers”.

There are now 1,153 designated centres for people with disabilities, an increase of 226 centres since regulation commenced. 

Congregated settings

As residents continue to move out of congregated settings and into the community, it is expected that this number will continue to grow in the coming years.

In response to this, the Hiqa disability team has reviewed its operational areas and plans to move from five to six regions, each with its own inspection team.