Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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715. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details of the amount spent or incurred by the Decision Support Service on PR consultants or PR advice in respect of the calendar year 2023, calendar year 2024 and 1 January 2025 to 31 May 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32400/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for their question regarding the Decision Support Service (DSS).

The Decision Support Service does not, and has never, retained the services of PR consultants. In that regard the communications and marketing section of the Mental Health Commission supports the organisation’s different divisions and services. The Mental Health Commission falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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716. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding a review of the effectiveness of the Director of the Decision Support Service provided for under section 102(3) of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; if it has been completed; the timeline for when the report of the review will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32401/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for their question regarding the Decision Support Service (DSS) and the statutory report regarding the effectiveness of the Director of that service.

The Decision Support Service is responsible for operating many of the provisions of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 as amended, including, inter alia, establishing a register of decision support arrangements, promoting public awareness, confidence and providing information and guidance about the Act, establishing panels of special visitors, general visitors and decision-making representatives and reviewing complaints in regard to the performance of decision-making representatives, co-decision makers and designated healthcare representatives.

Due to their central role in the operation of the 2015 Act, the legislation provides for the completion of a report, to be provided by the Mental health Commission to the Minister, on the effectiveness of the Director, on the adequacy of the functions assigned under the Act to the Director, and to include any such recommendations that the Mental Health Commission considers would improve these aspects of the legislation.

The Act sets out that this report must be submitted to me within two years from the date of the commencement of Part 9 of the Act, that is by end April 2025.

I can confirm that this report was received within the timeframe set out, and is currently being considered. The report will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course.