The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has overall policy responsibility for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Amendments are required to the Act before full commencement can take place and I understand work is actively underway in that Department on the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill with a view to its publication by the end of this year.
The Department of Health is responsible for Part 8 of the Act which provides a legislative framework for Advance Healthcare Directives. Some of the provisions in other Parts of the Act interconnect with Part 8 and work is continuing in respect of the outstanding matters which need to be addressed before Part 8 can be commenced.