Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1382.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total cost of establishing the decision support service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34575/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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On 26 of April 2023 I commenced the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, along with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022. The commencement of the Act marked a milestone in Ireland, by repealing the Lunacy Act of 1871 and replacing the wards of court system with a new, progressive, rights based system of supported decision-making and advance planning.

The Decision Support Service (DSS) is the organisation charged with operating the provisions of the 2015 Act, and with responding to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. The DSS ultimately exists to promote the rights and interests of people who may need support with decision-making through a framework that emphasises the will and preference of each individual.

The total budget to date of approximately €37.3 million (which has been made available over successive years from 2017 to 2024) has funded a multi-year establishment project, comprising approximately 30 sub-projects to design, build, and staff a new public-facing State service, as well as annual running costs during those years. This service is for all persons across the country.

Prior to the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act funding provided provided for the preparatory work required to design, resource, and build the infrastructure for a totally new national public service. Since the DSS commenced its public operations in April 2023, following the commencement of the relevant legislation, the DSS has registered 1,184 decision support arrangements, with over 570 registered in the last three months alone. In total, more than 15,600 people have now opened a secure, verified ‘MyDSS’ account since the DSS was established.

The DSS has multiple statutory functions under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, as amended. These include functions to:

• promote public awareness and public confidence in relation to the Act and related matters
• provide information and guidance to relevant persons, their decision supporters and organisations and bodies
• review and register decision support arrangements
• establish and maintain a searchable register of decision support arrangements
• supervise the activities of decision supporters including the review of annual reports and financial statements necessary for safeguarding
• establish and maintain panels of suitable persons who act as decision-making representatives, special visitors and general visitors;
• investigate complaints arising in decision support arrangements.
• act as the Central Authority for matters relating to the Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults.