Ms Joanne Condon:

We need an initial increase in staffing. Advocates on the ground are the most important aspect of the service that we want to see develop and grow for obvious reasons because that is where the waiting list is and pressure exists. Broadly speaking, an investment for future sustainability requires an initial investment of up to €1 million. That would allow us an initial uplift in advocate numbers. We are operating with the same level of advocates that we did when the service was established many years but the landscape has changed very significantly. In terms of the recognition of the role advocacy plays, the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act is only one area that we operate in. We provide advocacy across a whole range of issues. This is only one area but it now accounts for 24% of our work.

At a broader level, there is no Government strategy for the development of independent advocacy in an Irish context. It is very piecemeal and ad hoc currently. Interdepartmental discussion around advocacy has not happened.