TDs note failure to inspect voluntary groups

Members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee have expressed concern that the failure of the State to introduce legislation allowing for inspections of voluntary organisations providing services for people with disabilities could leave it open to possible compensation claims from residents.

The committee heard that the health service did not currently have any legislative power to enter non-profit organisations to check delivery of services either in terms of quantity or quality.

The secretary general of the Department of Health, Michael Scanlan, said statutory power to inspect such organisations would be set out in the legislation governing the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority which is to be produced later this year.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, John Purcell, said yesterday that the State paid out nearly €1 billion annually to non-profit organisations providing services for people with disabilities.

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming said that he was worried that there was "a gaping hole" in relation to the failure of the State to inspect facilities provided by voluntary organisations.

He suggested that in this there were echoes of matters before the Institutional Redress Board.

Committee chairman Michael Noonan of Fine Gael suggested that a contingent liability for the State could one day arise as a result of the failure to inspect.