Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 40 women in this situation have been identified. These women need to be helped as envisaged by the provisions in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill. They may need support and there will be a range of options. The Bill provides for decision-making assistants, co-decision makers and decision-making representatives and the public guardian. I wish to reassure the Deputy that a medical assessment is sought if there is any indication that an applicant under our scheme has capacity issues. As the Deputy knows, there has been a large number of payments made and which now total €18 million. A huge number of women successfully applied and have been dealt with. However, there are 40 women who we have identified either with the information already available or following a medical assessment as having capacity issues. These women will need to be helped and will require these kinds of representatives.

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