Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions his Department is taking to ensure individuals who are not computer literate are able to make an application for enduring powers of attorney. [36735/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for their question regarding the online application process for Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015.

EPAs are a vital advance planning tool that enable adults to plan ahead for a time when they may have diminished decision-making capacity, ensuring that a person’s wishes are known and respected.

The Decision Support Service (DSS) has statutory responsibility for the operation of many of the provisions of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 including the registration of EPAs.

Ensuring that the application system for decision support arrangements is as user-centric and as accessible as possible is a priority for my Department and is central to the work of the DSS.

On foot of stakeholder feedback the DSS has implemented a number of changes to improve the EPA application process, to reduce application processing times, and to address the accessibility needs of users of the service.

In that regard, in July 2024 the DSS introduced an accessibility policy which includes a dedicated EPA helpdesk service to ensure that individuals who require additional assistance in completing an online EPA application are supported in doing so. This helpdesk facility, together with helpful instructional videos and other guidance material provided on the DSS website, has seen the number of registered EPAs increase, and the timeframe for registration decrease.

It is important to note that there remains a facility for manual applications to be submitted by those who cannot, for a variety of reasons, utilise the online application system. The accessibility policy sets out that the DSS will ensure that individuals who are unable to utilize the online portal are facilitated in making an EPA application manually, and all applicants will be offered the support and advice required to ensure that they can complete their application to have their EPA registered.

A total of 3,000 EPAs have been registered by the DSS since the commencement of their service in April 2023, with over 85% of these registered since the introduction of the accessibility policy in July 2024. These figures indicate robust engagement with the new system since the introduction of the accessibility policy, and a growing awareness by adults of the importance of planning for the future.

My Department looks forward to continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that those who face diminished decision-making capacity are enabled to retain as much autonomy over their lives as possible, and have their wishes documented and respected.