A nursing home in Portlaoise operated by Emeis Ireland violated a ban on new admissions that had been imposed earlier this year by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), RTÉ Investigates has discovered, reports RTE.
HIQA confirmed this morning that after inspecting The Residence Portlaoise in February, it began the process of halting admissions to the facility.
The provider was informed of the measure in February, received a formal notice in March, and the restriction officially took effect on April 22, reports RTE.
Nevertheless, the home admitted new residents after April 22, breaching the imposed restriction.
Sources indicate that a surge of new admissions occurred at the home in late April, some even after April 22, while RTÉ Investigates had an undercover healthcare assistant employed there, reports RTE.
RTÉ Investigates has reached out to Emeis Ireland for comment, but the company has not yet replied.
HIQA also stated earlier that it is conducting a comprehensive review of all nursing homes under the Emeis Ireland group.
RTÉ Investigates revealed several instances of neglect and substandard care for vulnerable elderly residents at both The Residence Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, North Dublin — both run by Emeis Ireland, reports RTE.
HIQA described the incidents in the programme as “wholly unacceptable and shocking” in an official statement.
The agency noted that its “Chief Inspector is taking escalated regulatory action in the nursing homes identified,” and emphasized that HIQA “will take any necessary additional actions with the provider to ensure safe and effective care and support to all residents”, reports RTE.
The statement added that following a request from Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell, HIQA has begun reviewing all homes operated by Emeis Ireland.
“While these processes are ongoing and so as not to prejudice the outcome of this work, we cannot comment further until this work is concluded,” the statement said, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, the former general secretary of the INMO expressed feelings of shame, frustration, and anger after viewing the RTÉ Investigates episode exposing care failures at the two nursing homes.
“Looking at people who have served this country, have worked for this country, and have shown fortitude much more than the modern generation, and that’s how we treat them. Shame, shame on all of us,” Liam Doran said, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Doran criticized Ireland’s reliance on private care, stating that profit drives the private sector’s approach.
He challenged Minister O’Donnell’s earlier claim that 87% of homes are compliant, saying he doesn’t believe the statistic is accurate.
Doran called for moving beyond declarations of high compliance and toward establishing legal safeguards for elder care, reports RTE.
“And I would say back to the minister, gently but forcibly, compliant with what minister? What exactly do we have in place, underpinned by legislation, with regard to the care of older people that ensures that care is being met?” reports RTE.
He warned that unless elder care is backed by strong legislation, “the type of thing we saw last night will again occur, as it did 20 years ago in Leas Cross”.
Doran said HIQA can criticize providers but lacks real authority, since closing down services leaves the State — which he said has avoided being the main provider — responsible, reports RTE.
HIQA said its inspectors completed 840 nursing home inspections in 2024, and 84% of them were “unannounced”.
It added that most homes undergo one or two inspections annually, but more are carried out in homes with recurring concerns or consistent non-compliance.
In 2024, HIQA noted that 36 homes were inspected three or more times due to ongoing non-compliance.
“The nursing homes featured in this programme were subject to a number of additional inspections in an effort to bring them into compliance,” the HIQA statement said, reports RTE.
While saying that most nursing homes provide good care, HIQA acknowledged that “a small number… struggle to maintain compliance with the regulations”.
It also outlined that when persistent issues or safety risks arise, its Chief Inspector may enforce measures like halting admissions or, in some cases, cancelling a home’s registration, r r
HIQA stated it understands that these facilities are people’s homes and acknowledged that revoking registration “can cause significant upset and distress to residents and their families”.
In 2024, HIQA either refused to renew or cancelled the registration of ten nursing homes.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said the Government plans to develop an adult safeguarding policy, and a related Bill will be introduced soon, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said the programme aired last night would help accelerate this process, although there are existing laws covering many of the issues raised.
The Minister said he was “no doubt” the Department of Health would prioritize the matter, and he expects updates shortly, reports RTE.
He expressed his trust in HIQA, adding that while standards won’t always be met, HIQA’s role is to ensure such failures aren’t widespread.
Minister for Older People Kieran O’Donnell said he met with HIQA to discuss the problems revealed in the RTÉ Investigates episode.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, O’Donnell said he expects HIQA and the Chief Inspector to fully use their powers to fix the situation.
“What we saw last night was a wake up call for everyone,” he said, adding that environments for older people must be safe, reports RTE.
He also told HIQA to speed up inspections and double efforts to address issues at the two named homes.
The minister said HIQA assured him it has the resources and legal authority it needs.
Mr O’Donnell reiterated that 87% of homes reviewed by HIQA are compliant and deliver excellent care, reports RTE.
He said the Programme for Government includes a pledge to establish a national adult safeguarding policy, which he wants presented to Cabinet before the summer break.
SIPTU calling for action to ensure safe staffing levels
SIPTU has urged the Government to take measures to enforce safe staffing levels in private nursing homes, reports RTE.
In a statement, SIPTU sector organiser Liz Cloherty said: “The devastating reality is that the Government has effectively outsourced the care of our elderly to a for-profit sector primarily concerned with the bottom line for years and we are seeing the fruits of that now before our very eyes.
“We have written to Minister of State for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell TD seeking an urgent meeting to deal with issues arising from these revelations.
“Most damning was seeing how chronic understaffing and a lack of regulation, directly caused by poverty wages in the sector has shattered the morale of care workers while compromising patient safety. It has to stop,” added Ms Cloherty, reports RTE.
Patricia Rickard-Clark, Chairperson of Safeguarding Ireland, said she was disturbed, saddened, and angered by what was shown on the programme.
She criticized the delay of four months between the time nurse Clare Doyle raised concerns and HIQA’s follow-up inspection.
Ms Rickard-Clark said that “even if there is one person being abused that is a serious incident that should be followed up immediately”.
She added that despite the Leas Cross scandal two decades ago, where a 2005 Prime Time programme exposed poor conditions, progress has not been sustained, reports RTE.
Ms Rickard-Clark said she knew abuses still occurred, but did not expect such severe failures in 2025.
She urged the Government to create a task force, led by a senior official, to act on recommendations from the April 2024 Law Reform Commission report, which proposes legal and policy reforms, reports RTE.
She said this would establish a solid legal foundation for elder safeguarding.
“At the moment, we’re working to a HSE limited policy, which is run by the HSE by safeguarding and protection teams, but it is very limited to limited healthcare issues,” she said, reports RTE.
“There are much wider issues in safeguarding.”
Ms Rickard-Clark stated that HIQA still has questions to answer.
However, she clarified that HIQA examines systems rather than handling specific complaints or individual concerns, reports RTE.
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