UPDATE on 'go-live' date for DSS

UPDATE:  The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law by the President on 17 December 2022.

The Decision Support Service has welcomed this important milestone. We await an updated announcement from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth setting out a timeline for commencement. When commencement happens, the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2015, as amended, will become operational and the full services of the DSS will be available. 

Further updates will be available on our website as soon as they are available. 

Department selects new target 'go-live' date

23 September 2022 

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has informed the Decision Support Service (DSS) that a ‘go-live’ date of 21 November 2022 has been selected for the full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act).

Amending legislation, in the form of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity)(Amendment) Bill 2022 (the Amendment Bill) is necessary for the full commencement of the 2015 Act, and this is currently before the Seanad. The Amendment Bill is required to streamline processes set out in the 2015 Act and to improve safeguards. Following the enactment of the Amendment Bill, the 2015 Act will be commenced, which will allow for the DSS to commence operations and deliver its full statutory functions.

“The DSS has been asked to be ready to open our doors on November 21st, and we will be ready,” said the Director of the DSS, Áine Flynn. “Many people are waiting to access the supports set out under this Act, and we are delighted to get this critical and long-awaited service up and running.”

We will provide further updates as we move towards commencement and in the meantime the DSS teams are available to answer any queries that anyone might have. The DSS can be contacted by telephone on 01 211 9750 or by email at queries@decisionsupportservice.ie.