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	What Lessons Are Learnt after Galway Abuse Report? Inclusion Ireland April 2009 http://www.inclusionireland.ie/WhatlessonsarelearntafterGalwayabusereport.htm •The Hynes Review published today on the 8 year delay in the McCoy report on abuse in a service for people with a disability in Galway, cites lack of supports as major issue in delay; •Adults and children with a disability remain at risk as there is still no independent inspection and regulation of residential services for people with a disability, and Minister says standards will not be implemented in 2009 or 2010; Inclusion Ireland says abuse detailed in the McCoy report on the Brothers of Charity service in Galway, could happen today as there is still no independent inspection and regulation of services for people with an intellectual disability. Disability Minister John Moloney today said "safety and protection of citizens who are receiving services by or on behalf of the State is of paramount importance", but three weeks ago at Inclusion Ireland's AGM, he said standards for services would not be introduced in 2009 or 2010. The Hynes Review into the eight year delay in publishing the McCoy report was released today (Thursday 8th April). The McCoy report detailed 33 years of abuse between 1965 and 1998. A lack of resources and support was cited in today's report as a major factor in the delay. Inclusion Ireland says every support should have been made available to the inquiry team. It is also noted that the inquiry was non-statutory, so could not compel witnesses and had to rely on voluntary co-operation. A major report such as this should have been statutory. Draft standards for residential services for people with a disability are currently with Health Minister Mary Harney. The Health Information and Quality Authority developed these standards over a two year period. But Minister John Moloney told the Inclusion Ireland AGM on 28th March that standards will not implemented in 2009 or 2010. Inclusion Ireland presented to the Oireachtas Health Committee on this issue in December 2008, and received cross party support. Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll says: "We are angry because as an organisation we have been calling for the introduction of national standards and inspection of residential centres and community homes for children and adults with disabilities since the mid-1990s and nothing has been done. There are currently nearly 400 children with disabilities living in residential settings, whose homes are not inspected and where there are no national care standards applicable. These children are among the most vulnerable in society, yet we offer them less protection than other children at risk. For example, children in care have their homes independently inspected against national standards under the Children's Acts. Children with an intellectual disability have no such protection. "The delay in publishing the McCoy report is unacceptable, as it has added to the pain and suffering of many victims of abuse and their families. Eight years is a long time to wait for a report. Unfortunately there appears to have been little Government resolve to find out why there was this delay: in June 2008 Minister Moloney in answering a parliamentary question, said the report published today would be given to Minister Harney before 8th July (see PQ below). Indeed, the original deadline for this report was February 2008. "The bottom line is that there are still no national standards that services must adhere to and no independent inspection of services for people with a disability. Until such standards are implemented, adults and children with a disability remain at risk." ENDS Note to Editors: PQ, June 5th 2008: Deputy Alan Shatter: asked the Minister for Health and Children the exact timescale for the implementation of recommendations contained in the report published in December 2007 into services provided by the Brothers of Charity in Galway to provide for adequate protection from physical and sexual abuse for intellectually disabled children and adults in care; if she has received the results of the investigation into the delay of eight years in the publication of the report; if she is satisfied that no such physical or sexual abuse took place in any other institution for which the Brothers of Charity are responsible; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The HSE has informed my Department that it has carried out a review of the Brothers of Charity services. The review did not reveal any new cases of physical or sexual abuse. The HSE has also advised my Department that it is working with the Brothers of Charity on a comprehensive programme to implement all the recommendations in the McCoy report. As the Deputy is aware, Minister Harney appointed Mr. John Hynes, former Secretary General, Department of Social and Family Affairs, to investigate the delay of eight years in relation to the publication of the McCoy report into services provided by the Brothers of Charity, Galway Services. Mr. Hynes is due to report to Minister Harney on or before 8th July 2008. With regard to the remaining issues raised by the Deputy, the HSE has informed my Department that it will reply direct to the Deputy on these matters.
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