Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
361. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps a person must take in order to create an enduring power of attorney in an emergency situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33224/25]
View answerI thank the Deputy for their question regarding the creation of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) in emergency circumstances. Ensuring that individuals can register their EPAs as quickly as possible is key to the functioning of the Decision Support Service, in particular when those EPAs are required urgently in an emergency situation.
In the two years since commencement, having now received more than 5,000 EPAs for registration (2,700 registered, 2,300 submitted for registration) the DSS has received three emergency queries concerning applications in urgent circumstances.
Where it is perceived that the donor’s capacity to make an EPA is rapidly diminishing or may be affected by an imminent event such as proposed surgery, the DSS provides support to ensure that applicants in these situations are facilitated with access to MyDSS accounts and online application forms on an urgent basis. By using the MyDSS portal, it is possible to create an EPA instrument and access and complete the statutory supporting documents prefilled with the donor’s details in a single day.
This support can be sought via the DSS's EPA helpdesk. The helpdesk was introduced in July 2024 to assist individuals in making applications by guiding them through the EPA application process. The helpdesk staff will assist any applicants in drafting their applications and in emergency circumstances will work to ensure that applications are submitted promptly.
Any applicant or a professional in this situation is strongly encouraged to contact the DSS EPA Helpdesk at Freephone +353 (01) 211 9750 or by emailing epahelpdesk@decisionsupportservice.ie so that support can be made available.
Individuals who are considering making an EPA should do so as soon as possible. EPAs are an important form of future planning and should ideally be completed by individuals prior to experiencing any loss in capacity and well in advance of any event which may effect the donor's capacity. EPAs can be applied for at any point in time prior to a deterioration in their functional capacity.
