Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
492. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has evaluated the overall effectiveness of the NIRP since it became operational in 2018; and if so, to publish or summarise the outcomes. [33542/26]
View answerThe new National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health & Social Care Sector was published in December 2025, following Government approval.
The framework recognises the important role of adult safeguarding learning reviews as part of our overall system of adult safeguarding. Specifically, it acknowledges the role that the National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) has undertaken since its establishment by the HSE in 2017.
The framework includes commitments to introduce a new standardised approach for adult safeguarding learning reviews, building on and strengthening the current NIRP process.
Forthcoming legislation will place the NIRP on a statutory footing and will require that all adult safeguarding incidents that reach a defined criteria must be referred to the NIRP for review. The legislation will provide:
• That the NIRP will operate independently,
• For an expansion of the NIRP’s remit to enable it to review adult safeguarding incidents across all health and social care services,
• Clear criteria for when adult safeguarding incidents must be referred to NIRP, and by whom,
• That the NIRP can review adult safeguarding incidents that do not meet the mandatory criteria, on the basis of a clear referral process which will be developed,
• For powers of access to information and to interview relevant persons, and
• That the primary focus of reviews is learning and system improvement.
As the day-to-day operation of the NIRP is an operational matter, the question has also been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
