Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
1166. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the commitment to explore the establishment of a national safeguarding body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults, as per the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSafeguarding at-risk adults against abuse is of paramount importance and is taken very seriously by the Government.
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.
Responding to this commitment, Government approved Ireland’s first ever National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector in December 2025. The policy framework will extend across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services.
Included are a range of both legislative and non-legislative measures that will significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector. The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments and my Department has commenced the drafting of a General Scheme of a Safeguarding Bill. Key legislative commitments include:
• The Health Service Executive (HSE) will have responsibility for leading and coordinating adult safeguarding across the sector and will have statutory functions, duties, and powers to underpin this role.
• Current safeguarding structures within the HSE will be strengthened and legislation will provide that they will operate independently in the performance of their functions.
• New powers of entry for safeguarding and protection teams and powers to obtain court protection orders.
• The Health Information Quality Authority's (HIQA’s) remit will be extended to include independent oversight and monitoring of adult safeguarding services for the Health and Social care sector delivered by the HSE.
• New obligations for service providers including undertaking risk evaluations, developing, and publishing adult safeguarding statements and ensuring staff are appropriately trained.
• The introduction of mandatory reporting in specified circumstances.
• The National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) process for adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious incidents will be strengthened and placed on a statutory footing.
• Strengthened cooperation between service providers and relevant state agencies.
The policy framework also sets out a range of non-legislative commitments to strengthen adult safeguarding across the sector, which will complement the proposed legislation. The HSE’s Chief Social Worker has been charged with developing an implementation plan for the policy framework, which will set out the detailed work that will be undertaken to take forward these commitments, including to prepare for the forthcoming legislation.
Separately, the Programme for Government also includes a commitment relating to all sectors to explore the establishment of a National Safeguarding Body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults. I anticipate that this Programme for Government commitment will be carefully considered by all relevant Departments in relation to their respective functions.
