Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that the Law Reform Commission is preparing a report on A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding. The report is awaited and once published its recommendations will be considered.

It is important to note that adult safeguarding is an important matter for all sectors, society as a whole, and across Government Departments and agencies. This is especially so for our most vulnerable adult citizens.

In this regard the Deputy may be aware that adult safeguarding is primarily the responsibility of the HSE National Safeguarding Office, which oversees the implementation, monitoring, review and ongoing evaluation of the Safeguarding Policy as well as coordinating the development and roll-out of safeguarding training.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Assisted Decision-Making Acts have brought into effect a new legislative framework to support decision making by adults with capacity difficulties. This provides for a three tier framework of decision making assistance arrangements, co-decision making agreements, and decision making representation orders. Responsibility for this legislation now rests with my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth.