Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to register my sympathies to Senator Dolan on the death of her father and give our condolences to her family.

I echo the congratulations to Kilmainham Gaol. It is another reason I am loud and proud of being a resident and lover of the constituency of Dublin South-Central. It is fantastic. Everything the Office of Public Works, OPW, has done in opening up the space and working with Dublin City Council, and its proximity to the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, is just fantastic, as is the history of the area and the manner in which the guides share the history of the gaol with anybody going into it. For Pride month, it had a special exhibition and talk. It is pertinent and relevant and moves all the time. The guides pull out the rich history of Kilmainham Gaol. I echo the congratulations that should be expressed on behalf of us all.

I want to reflect on Mary Farrell's presentation yesterday in the audiovisual room on behalf of the campaign group Justice for Wards. She explained that the money, assets, estates and major awards which in many cases amount to millions, are held by the Courts Service prior to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act coming into force. They are held and administered by the Courts Service, and have been since, at the very least, the 1960s when oversight was first questioned in the Oireachtas. These moneys have been depleted significantly in the course of investments. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act is making changes and moneys are being restored to the wards themselves to administer. The fact is that there is a big gap in many of the funds of individual wards. Ms Farrell is highlighting this and calling for an inquiry, as I am myself. The Deputy Leader was in the audiovisual room for the presentation yesterday and was very helpful in many of the comments she made. I have sent an email to all Members of both Houses to highlight what is going on in order that we get support to ensure an inquiry can happen and that we can get audit of what is there and make sure the services of the State step in, while also looking after what has happened to those funds and how we increase them.