A health board is investigating the level and quality of care given to autistic adults at a residential centre run by the Irish Society for Autism in Co Kildare.
The South Western Area Health Board has confirmed that an independent third party is reviewing the society's "provision of services" at the centre.
The health board declined to name the facility, but it is understood to be Dunfirth Farm, near Johnstown in north Kildare. The health board said it was undertaking the review at the request of several parents who have made complaints. It said the Society was co-operating with the review.
The parents are understood to have raised concerns about the standard of care given to some of those staying at the centre, which provides services to about 36 adults, and also about the financial management generally at the Society.
However the society's director, Mr Pat Matthews, said he stood over the quality of care at the centre and the financial record of the Society.
"The Irish Society for Autism runs a service of excellence at Dunfirth Farm. This is borne out by the active support of the majority of the parents of those attending the service," he told The Irish Times.
He said he believed the review would give Dunfirth a "clean bill of health" and was unlikely to include any major criticism.
However he said the society currently had a shortfall of €8,000 per person annually at the centre and this was placing a strain on staff. "We are providing a good service within the limitations of our funding," he said. The centre at Dunfirth, was bought by the society from the proceeds of a television appeal in 1982. It is a farm with residential accommodation and outbuildings spread over approximately 70 acres of land.
The health board has declined to disclose who is carrying out the review, but The Irish Times understands it is a British psychologist, Dr Peter Baker, who last week spent four hours inspecting the Dunfirth centre. His visit was unannounced.
He has spoken to the GP and psychiatrist who serve the centre and also to the parents who have made complaints. His report is due to be released in mid-April. Mr Matthews said he would then convene a public meeting to discuss it, and the parents who have made complaints were welcome to attend.
The parents have also claimed they are constantly asked to fundraise for the society but they rarely get any receipts or information on how the money is being spent. Mr Matthews said the society had audited accounts and these could be inspected by anyone. He denied there was any lack of accountability for funds.
He said the only problem he was aware of in relation to financial accounts was that last year the society had failed to send its accounts to members 21 days before the annual general meeting.
Mr Matthews said the health board originally began its review because the society wanted an increase in its "base rate" of funding and it was only later that complaints from parents were taken up by the health board. He said that while some parents had complained, he had letters from others very happy with the service.