Ms Áine Flynn:

To take the second question first, we keep the performance of the Act and particular targeted amendments under review. There are certain things that we can think of - they are quite niche and detailed - that might make the functioning of the Act better. It might strike members as a fairly simple thing, but there is a requirement for everybody to physically be in the one room to sign and witness an enduring power of attorney or codecision-making agreement. That can present a challenge. There are other things we would point out about the timelines for the investigation of complaints, which we think could work better and more effectively.

As to how things are working on the ground, we speak to decision supporters every day about how they are carrying out their roles with the aim of providing support to them. We particularly seek engagement from the relevant persons who are the subjects, namely, the parties involved in these arrangements who are supposed to be benefiting from them. There are codes of practice as well for how all these arrangements are to deliver and they are mandatory in nature. A question was asked earlier about training and we are getting into that territory. The good delivery of this Act depends not just on the Decision Support Service's communication and stakeholder engagement. This Act will work successfully when it is understood across a whole range of sector that recognise their responsibility is to take the Act and make it work in the area in which they deliver.