Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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927. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on her Department's efforts to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61008/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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928. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on her Department's efforts to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to explore the establishment of a National Safeguarding Body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61010/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 927 and 928 together.

Safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse is a key objective for me and my Department, every statutory body under its aegis, and for all health and social care services.

A framework of standards, policies and procedures for safeguarding adults in the health and social care sector is already in place. This includes a National Safeguarding Office in the HSE, specialist Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each health region, designated Safeguarding Officers within services and specific regulatory requirements for residential care services which are inspected against by HIQA and the Mental Health Commission. Further measures are now being developed to strengthen this framework.

The Programme for Government 2025 "Securing Ireland’s Future" includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector. My Department, in liaison with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, is at an advanced stage of finalising this national policy, the first of its kind in this area. This is a very significant development and will provide a framework for strengthening safeguards across all care settings.

The new policy will build on the structures and processes that are already in place to protect against abuse. Importantly, it will commit to the introduction of safeguarding legislation in the sector and will set out, at a high level, proposed new legislative provisions. I hope to bring this policy to Government shortly.

The Government has included a Health (Adult Safeguarding) Bill in its current Legislation Programme to facilitate underpinning legislation for this sectoral policy. Preparation of this legislation will commence once the national policy has been approved by Government.