Cork's Baile Geal resident centre now fully compliant after urgent issues flagged, HIQA report finds

Cork’s Baile Geal Residential Service for people with disabilities has said it is now fully compliant following a recently published Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report of an inspection earlier this year, which saw it issued with multiple urgent actions.

The centre, which opened in May 2024, received its first inspection in December of that year. While evidence of some good supports to residents were found during that inspection, regulatory actions were identified regarding the premises provided and aspects of fire safety.

It was also apparent during inspection that the actual layout of the premises was different to the floor plans under which the centre had first been registered.

The provider had made a commitment to submit an application to vary its conditions of registration in order to address the difference in premises layout by March, but when the inspection was conducted in April, this application had not been submitted.

Some information was also submitted to the chief inspector of social services which raised significant concerns.

The current inspection was conducted to assess these matters and, overall, it was found that the concerns raised were founded.

This contributed to urgent actions being issued to the provider for four regulations — premises; governance and management; risk management procedures, and fire precautions. Overall, the centre was marked compliant in four areas, substantially compliant in four, and not compliant in six.

A fire risk assessment conducted for the centre in February 2025 had raised significant concerns around the provision of fire safety in the centre, determining that the risk to life from fire was “intolerable”.

Issues included concerns around fire doors, the installation of external emergency lighting, and arranging specific testing of certain facilities.

The fire risk assessment highlighted there was limited evidence of contractors employed by Barróg Healthcare Limited being assessed for competence, saying: “The premises was in poor condition following alterations that have been carried out to a poor standards [sic], using inappropriate materials.”

There were further issues with the premises — the layout present during the December 2024 inspection remained unchanged, meaning there were repeat findings such as two residents not having access to a separate kitchen area. Inspectors were informed that there was “no possible way” that the May 1, 2025, timeframe for installing a new kitchenette would be met.

Inspectors were also concerned that a shower which one resident needed had been out of order since January 2025. The resident required the use of a shower chair due to epilepsy, and inspectors were told other showers were not suitable for them, so they were having their hair washed in their day service.

A spokesperson for the provider, Barróg Healthcare, told The Echo: “We are pleased to confirm that Baile Geal Residential Service has successfully completed all required actions to return to full compliance following the inspection in April.

“Since the inspection, Barróg has taken decisive steps to address the matters raised, including significant upgrades to fire safety systems, drainage infrastructure, electrical works, and internal layout.

“A new fire safety strategy has been implemented, all required structural works have been completed, and a new governance and risk management structure has been established to ensure sustained oversight and responsiveness.”

They thanked the residents, their families, and staff for their support and patience during the upgrade process, adding: “The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of those we support remains our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and compliance moving forward.”