Independent inquiry and audit of administration of funds for Wards of Court required – Seery-Kearney

An independent inquiry and audit of the administration of funds for Wards of Court is urgently required, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Mary Seery-Kearney has joined the call from the Justice for Wards Group, who presented their perspectives and experiences to the parliamentary community in Leinster House yesterday (Weds).

Senator Seery-Kearney said: “A number of people who are Wards of Court, and who until recently could not make decisions regarding their own financial assets, had those assets administered on their behalf by the Courts Service.

“During the years 2007 to 2009, a large number of the administered funds were depleted in the wake of the banking crisis.

“The consequence of this is that Wards find themselves without the financial security they had hoped to have to support their lifelong needs for nursing care, secure housing and other day to day needs.

“This has led many of the families of people who are Wards of Court to find themselves in a perilous financial situation.”

Senator Seery-Kearney continued: “Yesterday in Leinster House we heard from families about their experiences and heard their urgent calls for support. I echo these calls.

“One family member raised the issue of the oversight of committees making decisions for wards in relation to their funds and called for this to be included in the remit of any inquiry.

“While there is currently a robust oversight system, the contention of family members present yesterday was that quite extraordinarily, non-Ward centred decisions have occurred resulting in the depletion of assets.”

Senator Seery-Kearney continued: “While the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Acts 2015 – 2022 has brought about the welcome discharge process of the Wards of Court system, within the changes there is provision to address the issues of the depleted funds being returned to Wards under the new arrangements.

“The Joint Oireachtas Justice Committee issued a report in 2018 and sought action to support Wards in the form of care support, medical cards and whatever other needs present.

“An RTE Investigates Documentary aired in the last year also highlighted this pressing need to address the fallout in terms of funds for this vulnerable group of people. The Courts Service have also issued a document addressing this issue.

“I am calling for an independent inquiry and audit of the administration of funds for Wards of Court to take place without delay,” Senator Seery-Kearney concluded.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• Joint Committee on Justice and Equality Report on Wards of Court: 2018-02-22_report-on-the-wards-of-court_en.pdf (oireachtas.ie)
• RTE Investigates Programme on the issue: The people caught in Ireland’s wardship system (rte.ie)
• Sunday Independent article Families call for inquiry into State’s handling of financial affairs of wards of court | Independent.ie