New law will give body regulatory powers over home support providers, while policy framework proposes that HIQA monitors adult safeguarding services
HIQA is to be given new responsibilities in monitoring adult safeguarding and home supports, the Government has announced.
Launching Ireland’s first national policy framework on adult safeguarding, the Health Minister said that legislation underpinning key areas will be progressed ‘as a matter of priority’ next year.
The new policy includes plans to extend the remit of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to include independent oversight and monitoring of adult safeguarding services for the health and social care sector delivered by the HSE.
The Government today also published the Health (Amendment) ( Home Support Providers) Bill 2025. Under the Bill, HIQA will have the power to monitor and assess compliance with regulations on home support providers.
Launching the policy framework on adult safeguarding, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said it “sets out our commitment to developing a robust adult safeguarding system across the health and social care service.
“It provides for a holistic approach to safeguarding with an emphasis on empowerment, prevention and effective response and intervention.
“Everyone has a fundamental right to be safe. Abuse or neglect of any adult at risk of harm is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
“We are committed to developing adult safeguarding legislation to underpin this policy and my department will be advancing this as a matter of priority next year.”
The policy document aims to expand and strengthen adult safeguarding across the health and social care sector to ensure adults at risk are safeguarded effectively against abuse and harm.
Under its proposals, service providers will be compelled to undertake risk evaluations, develop and publish adult safeguarding statements and ensure staff are appropriately trained.
Mandatory reporting of incidents will be introduced in specified circumstances, while the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) process for adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious incidents will be strengthened and placed on a statutory footing.
The policy and forthcoming legislation will apply to all health and social care providers – public, voluntary and private.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) will have responsibility for leading and coordinating adult safeguarding across the sector and will have statutory functions, duties and powers to underpin this role.
Current safeguarding structures within the HSE will be strengthened and legislation will provide that they will operate independently in the performance of their functions.
Legislation will also establish new powers of entry for safeguarding and protection teams and powers to obtain court protection orders.
The Cabinet has also approved the publication of the Health (Amendment) ( Home Support Providers) Bill 2025.
Meanwhile the Health (Amendment) ( Home Support Providers) Bill 2025 amends the Health Act of 2007 to provide for a registration framework for home support providers, while making it an offence to operate a home support service without a registration, and incorporating transitional arrangements for existing home support providers.
Home support providers will be required to adhere to a registration framework supported by national quality standards developed by HIQA, and meet minimum requirements set out under ministerial regulations.
“In a first for Ireland, this Bill will introduce the registration and regulation of professional home support services by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services,” said the Health Minister.
“Regulation is fundamental to ensuring that all service users are provided with high quality care with the same minimum standards wherever and however it is provided, in line with best international practice.
“Amongst other measures, it will provide the Chief Inspector with a range of powers and will make it an offence to provide a home support service without being registered.
“The Chief Inspector will also be responsible for monitoring and assessing compliance of registered home support providers against regulations and HIQA standards.”
Once enacted, the new laws will make it an offence to provide a home support service without being registered. Registered home support providers will not be permitted to operate below the standard set by ministerial regulations.
“Home Support is a vital service that is delivered to many people across the country every day, by public, private and voluntary providers. It is essential that it is properly regulated nationwide,” said Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell.
“The introduction of this Bill demonstrates the progress that we are making in reforming home support and is an integral step in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to design a statutory homecare scheme to allow people to stay in their home for as long as possible.
“This regulatory framework and inspection process will ensure that the public can be confident that the home support services provided are of a high quality and standard.”
The Ministers will now bring the Bill to the Oireachtas for consideration and it will become an Act once it has been passed by the Dáil and Seanad and the President signs it into law.
A commencement date for all or part of the Act will then be set by Minister Carroll MacNeill.
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