Minister for Health briefed by Sage Advocacy
Sage Advocacy has welcomed Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD to its national headquarters in Dublin for a briefing highlighting the extent to which the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) legislation has impacted the organisation’s work.
Since the legislation commenced in April 2023, Sage has dealt with 2,288 cases relating to Part 5 Assisted Decision-Making Applications. In these cases, Sage’s independent Advocates have supported the courts to hear the voice of the relevant person whose capacity is at issue.
Minister Carroll MacNeill was briefed on advocates work with those who require support in navigating complex health, social care, legal and financial systems.
Addressing these challenges requires a continuum of services spanning Information, Support, Advocacy, Safeguarding, Systems and Policy Development, delivered across a wide range of settings including people’s homes, day centres, nursing homes and residential care settings, hospitals, hostels, hospices and prisons.
Discussions at the briefing focused on responding to demand for independent advocacy services – and the critical role it plays in ensuring that people’s voice, rights and preferences are heard.
This week’s visit also provided an opportunity to discuss challenges such as the oversight, regulation and coordination of advocacy services; the development of recognised qualifications for advocacy professionals; Assisted Decision-Making; adult safeguarding; protection of liberty, nursing home and home care supports; and the need for sustainable service funding.
Sage Advocacy Chair, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Mark Mellett, said: “We were honoured to welcome Minister Carroll MacNeill to discuss the important role Sage Advocacy plays in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. As demand for advocacy services continues to grow, it is important that policymakers recognise the value advocacy brings, both to individuals and to the wider health and social care system.”
Referring to the findings of a recent independent evaluation of Sage’s work CEO Bibiana Savin said: “Sage Advocacy is not simply a service within the system. It is a critical mechanism through which the system functions more effectively, particularly for those most at risk of being left behind. Sage Advocacy delivers a high degree of value for money, much of which is realised through outcomes not always visible within traditional performance metrics.”
“A defining feature of Sage’s operating model is its flexibility. Advocacy cases frequently expand beyond their initial scope as underlying issues emerge, requiring engagement with many service providers and family members. That flexibility has been shown to be one of our greatest strengths. We go the extra mile for clients, but the resources required to do so must keep pace with the demand and the increasing complexity of our work.”
The Minister’s visit provided a valuable opportunity to explore how advocacy can be strengthened through greater professional development, appropriate regulation and sustained investment, ensuring people can access independent support when they need it most.
Through its Information and Support Service, Sage Advocacy provides a vital first point of contact for people seeking information, guidance and advocacy. By helping individuals understand their rights, access services and address concerns at an early stage, the organisation enables better outcomes for individuals while contributing to a more responsive and person-centred health and social care system.
In conclusion Bibiana Savin said: “As demand for independent advocacy services continues to grow, particularly in relation to Assisted Decision-Making Representation Orders and support for Survivors of Institutional Abuse, the need to ensure sustained investment in advocacy has never been greater.
“Sage Advocacy is supporting the continued development of the sector through its discussion paper, Regulation of Independent Advocacy in Ireland[1], and through its work to develop accredited training pathways for advocacy professionals. These initiatives reflect a commitment to strengthening professional standards, building sector capacity, and ensuring advocacy remains a cornerstone of a rights-based, person-centred health and social care system.”
