Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act is a law that supports the rights of people with disabilities to make their own decisions. It applies to anyone 18 years and over.

• The Act is informed by guiding principles, which include:
  • It is presumed that every adult can make their own decisions.
  • A person must be given all the help they need so that they can make their own decisions.
  • A person’s will and preference must be respected.
  • Will and preference mean what the person would want for themselves.
  • If a person wants to make a decision that seems unwise, that does not mean they are unable to make that decision.
  • We must respect a person’s right to decide what happens to them, their body, and their property.
  • Act in good faith and for the benefit of the person
• The Decision Support Service website has a lot of valuable information and resources which will help you to understand more about the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act:
  • Welcome to the Decision Support Service website | Decision Support Service
  • DSS Easy Read - 26 May 2023.pdf (decisionsupportservice.ie)