669. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to examine the user experience of the enduring power of attorney application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51589/26]

I thank the Deputy for their question regarding Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. EPAs are a vital advance planning tool that enable adults to plan ahead for a time when they may have diminished decision-making capacity, ensuring that a person’s wishes are known and respected. The safeguarding of adults with decision-making difficulties is central to the EPA application and registration process under the 2015 Act.

Ensuring that the EPA online portal is as accessible and user-centric as possible is of the utmost importance in encouraging and enabling people to put an EPA in place. On foot of stakeholder feedback the DSS has implemented a number of changes to improve the EPA application process and to address the accessibility needs of users of the service. As part of this, in February 2026 the DSS launched a dedicated new website - www.myepa.ie - designed to guide individuals step by step through the process of creating an EPA in a clear and accessible way. The site brings together all relevant information and supports in one place and is intended to assist donors, attorneys, family members and solicitors alike in understanding their options and responsibilities. It also provides guidance on future planning and offers reassurance that support is available throughout the process. This along with a dedicated EPA helpdesk facility, and helpful instructional videos and other guidance material provided on the DSS website, ensures that all adults wishing to plan for the future are supported in doing so.

In that regard almost 7,000 EPAs have been registered by the DSS since April 2023, with approximately 80% of these registered across 2025 and 2026. This demonstrates an increasing awareness of the importance of advance planning, an increasing uptake by adults, and an improved efficiency in the application process.

While the DSS has a digital-first policy when it comes to EPA applications, it is important to note that there remains a facility for manual applications to be submitted by those who cannot, for a variety of reasons, utilise the online application system. The DSS will ensure that all applicants can avail of the support and advice required to ensure that they can complete their application to have their EPA registered.

The 2015 Act requires that a review of the operation and effectiveness of the Act must take place no later than five years after its commencement. That review will be extensive, will consider all aspects of the Act, and, most importantly, will be informed by those with lived experiences of the provisions of the Act and by wider stakeholders.

I look forward to continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that those who face diminished decision-making capacity are enabled to retain as much autonomy over their lives as possible, and have their wishes documented and respected.