The HSE has reiterated its apology to a woman with serious intellectual disabilities, who was abused at a foster home for 20 years.

The apology comes as the HSE releases two reports relating to the so-called 'Grace' case at a foster home in the South East.

The woman, known popularly as 'Grace', was left in the care of the foster home in 1989 and left there until 2009, despite several concerns about abusive conditions.

It also emerged today that the family concerned had never been cleared to offer services as a permanent foster home, and had only ever been approved as a respite facility for children who were in the care of other foster families.

Today the HSE admitted that it had missed four clear opportunities to have Grace removed from the home in which he was resident, but failed act on each case.

Dr Cathal Morgan, the HSE's national head of disability services, admitted that it was "not rocket science" that a person should have been removed from the environment in which Grace was left.

The release of today's reports allows the HSE to begin taking disciplinary action against any staff responsible.

However it admits that it cannot take action against many staff involved, who have since retired or resigned. 

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reported for Today FM's National Lunchtime News:

However the former head of the Public Accounts Committee, which brought the case to light, has doubts anyone will be held responsible.

Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness says the HSE has already proven itself more of a hindrance than a help in holding people responsible.

And he says he has doubts the people responsible for leaving Grace in an abusive home will ever face discipline: