3388. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if she will introduce a National Safeguarding Authority to ensure improved safeguarding duties, accountability mechanisms and oversight enforcement across sectors and settings for the protection of people living with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56171/26]

On 9 December 2025, Cabinet approved Ireland’s first ever National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector. Publication of the policy is a commitment in the Programme for Government and also in the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030. 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 (including disability services). The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments. 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.

A number of actions are being progressed to support implementation of the Policy Framework:

• The Department of Health is actively working on preparing a General Scheme of an Adult Safeguarding Bill and it is expected to be published this year.

• The Health Service Executive's (HSE’s) Chief Social Worker is leading the development of an implementation plan for the policy framework to be approved by the Department of Health.

• An Implementation Oversight Group has been established by the Chief Social Worker to support the development of the implementation plan and to coordinate, monitor and drive delivery of the implementation plan.

• The Department of Health has established a Stakeholder Forum to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss and engage on the implementation of the Policy Framework. The first meeting of the Stakeholder Forum took place on 3 June.

• The HSE is recruiting Directors of Safeguarding in each Health Region to lead on safeguarding regionally.

Separately, the Programme for Government 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.