Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
562. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the status of the promised national safeguarding policy for the health and social care sector, with particular emphasis on the safeguarding of adults and older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20445/24]
View answerSafeguarding at-risk adults against abuse is of paramount importance and is taken very seriously by the Department of Health and the Government.
The Department of Health, in liaison with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is at an advanced stage of developing a national policy on adult safeguarding specifically in respect of the health and care sector (including older people), in order to further strengthen existing protections in this sector. A public consultation closed on 2 April and the consultation feedback report will now be prepared by the Institute of Public Health.
Separately, on 17 April, the independent Law Reform Commission published a Report on ‘A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding'. The Commission’s recommendations are comprehensive and wide-ranging and have relevance across a range of Government Departments. The Department of Health will carefully consider the recommendations the Commission has made that are relevant to the Department's functions and its recommendations in relation to inter-departmental cooperation and I anticipate that the other key Departments with relevant functions will do the same. The Department of Health looks forward to working in partnership with all relevant Departments in analysing and considering in detail the comprehensive and wide-ranging recommendations and draft civil and criminal legislation that the Commission has published in its Report.
It is expected that this Department's costed sectoral policy proposals will be brought before Government at the end of this year, informed by the consultation process and also the Law Reform Commission’s report.
