Improvements underway after HIQA report on Inbhear na Mara in Bundoran

Four areas requiring improvement have been identified in a new HIQA inspection report on Inbhear na Mara, a designated residential centre in Bundoran for adults with intellectual disabilities.

The unannounced inspection, carried out on July 3, 2025, found that while residents received safe, person-centred care, improvements were needed in four of the eleven regulations inspected: specifically in the areas of staffing, governance and management, communication, and individual assessment and personal plans.

The HSE, which manages the centre, said it remains committed to maintaining and improving standards of care.

Inspectors found that Inbhear na Mara provided a “good quality service” for residents, who were supported to meet their health, social, and personal care needs. 

The staff team was described as “respectful and knowledgeable,” and the environment was found to be clean, well maintained, and suitable for residents’ needs.

However, HIQA highlighted a reliance on agency staff due to vacant nursing and healthcare assistant posts, which affected consistency in staffing. The HSE has since undertaken interviews to fill these positions and submitted documentation for approval to recruit additional healthcare assistants.

In relation to governance and management, inspectors found that while oversight systems were in place, improvement was required to ensure that service improvement actions were clearly defined and measurable. 

The centre has since developed a system to review and monitor all assessments of needs, with timelines now established for completion.

Under communication, HIQA found that although staff demonstrated good understanding of residents’ non-verbal communication and use of Lámh signs, not all communication plans reflected recent speech and language therapy reports. Information sessions have since been held with staff, and communication profiles are being updated to ensure accuracy.

The individual assessment and personal plan process was also found to need improvement, with some assessments not signed or dated. The HSE said all assessments are now aligned with residents’ current needs and preferences, and that annual reviews will include clear goals for the year ahead.

Of the eleven regulations assessed, seven were found to be fully compliant, and none were deemed non-compliant.

The report noted that residents benefit from a comfortable, homely environment, with access to individual bedrooms, communal living spaces, and activity and sensory rooms. Staff were observed to interact respectfully with residents and to promote their rights and independence.

In a statement, the HSE said: “The HSE welcomes the publication of the HIQA report at Inbhear na Mara and remains committed to ensuring high-quality services are delivered and maintained at the designated centre.”

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Overall, HIQA concluded that Inbhear na Mara provides a safe, person-centred service where residents are supported to live with dignity and respect, while ongoing improvements are being implemented to strengthen staffing consistency and care planning.