Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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753. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the development of independent advocacy services to support vulnerable persons in view of the enactment of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the planned Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016; her further plans to prepare for the implementation of the safeguarding of vulnerable adults Bill 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32612/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to all citizens on a wide range of public and social services. One of the functions of the CIB, as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, is to directly provide or support the provision of advocacy services to individuals and in particular to assist those with a disability, to identify and understand their needs and options, in order to secure their entitlement to social services.

Advocacy services are provided by the nationwide network of Citizens Information Services (CIS), funded and supported by CIB. CIS provides free, impartial and confidential information to the public on a range of social and public services. CIS supports clients, including those who may have a disability, to act on their own behalf wherever possible (self-advocacy). CIS also advocates directly on behalf of clients.

In 2011, the National Advocacy Service (NAS) was established under the Citizens Information Board to provide an independent, confidential, and free representative advocacy service to vulnerable people with disabilities who cannot self-advocate, while supporting others to use mainstream services. NAS has a particular remit for people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services or have limited informal or natural supports. NAS is fully funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) and has been allocated an operational grant of €3.1 million for 2017.

NAS is a member of the expert group set up by the National Disability Authority to develop draft Codes of Practice under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. My Department is represented on this Group separately.

My Department is also represented on the National Safeguarding Committee and plays an active role on the sub-group of this Committee dealing with State payments to vulnerable adults.

With a view to progressing the enactment of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, and the Adult Safeguarding Bill, 2017, a working group has been established within my Department to examine and make recommendations on:

- processes for appointing ‘agents’ to act on behalf of a recipient or beneficiary of social welfare payments, in circumstances where the recipient is certified by a registered medical practitioner to be a person who is, or is likely to soon become, unable (for the time being) to manage his or her own financial affairs;

- reviewing existing agency arrangements;

- dealing with specific complaints regarding named agents where this arises (with the involvement of relevant external agencies as necessary); and

- general measures necessary for the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and continuing to raise awareness of staff on the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults, with a particular emphasis on financial abuse.

The group is also assessing the implications for its processes and procedures for agency arrangements in the context of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, the Codes of Practice being developed by the National Disability Authority under the Act, and the Adult Safeguarding Bill, 2017, and will make recommendations for changes necessary in order for the Department to fully comply with that legislation.

In addition, my Department is supportive of the guiding principles of the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 which are intended to safeguard the autonomy and dignity of the person with impaired capacity.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.