Thomas Pringle TD
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Pringle presses Taoiseach for timely investigations into HSE management

Pringle presses Taoiseach for timely investigations into HSE management

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has called on the Taoiseach to ensure timely investigations into HSE management following “ongoing patterns of failure” in residential centres.

Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil today during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Pringle said: “There seems to be a pattern of failure emerging amongst HSE management. We need an investigation into HSE management in CHO 1 but we also need an investigation into this community health organisation’s relationship nationally.”

The deputy said: “I was shocked to read of the news that came out yesterday regarding yet another failure of HSE management in the north-west region. Recent correspondence from Hiqa expresses concerns regarding a residential disability centre for adults in Donegal where a resident had accessed child sexual exploitation material on three separate occasions in 2016, 2017 and 2021. The Hiqa report states that the HSE has repeatedly ‘failed to demonstrate fitness’ to safeguard residents with disabilities in its centres.

“It is important to note that the only reason we know of this incident and of Hiqa correspondence is due to a leak. This is completely unacceptable and shows the ultimate problem here. It was the same case with the Brandon report, which was another example of complete failure of HSE management.

“The only reason this report came to light is because myself and Minister Rabbitte continued to press the HSE regarding this. The fact that a minister had to continuously press the HSE in the first place, just to get a copy of the Brandon report, is extremely concerning, Taoiseach, and I would ask that you consider this. To date the Brandon report has still not been published, despite the families’ wish to see the full report, and we are again relying on leaks for information. Something needs to change here,” he said.

The deputy noted that when discussing the Brandon report last year, he asked how we could be sure this would not happen again.

Deputy Pringle said: “Sadly, months later we are again facing another similar situation and again the only reason we know about it is through leaks. Taoiseach, you need to put people’s minds at ease. We have to know that this won’t happen again and in the case that it does, we at very least have to know about it.

“There are serious concerns of how residential centres are currently being managed in Donegal, as well as Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Monaghan. But I also would have concerns regarding HSE management nationally and how the CHOs relate to national management. I think we need to address problems with Hiqa as well. I have concerns regarding their processes also and I would be wary of placing all the scrutiny on the HSE without recognising Hiqa’s role in this.

“One way or another we urgently need an investigation into HSE management, in CHO1 and nationally. We need to know how management are being held accountable and how we can know that this won’t happen again,” he said.

Deputy Pringle said the recent leak indicates that HSE management hasn’t learned from the Brandon report and an investigation is needed.

He said: “The most recent revelations actually took place after the Brandon report was reported, so the management hadn’t changed. We need to make sure that takes place.”