Hundreds of adult wards of court could face delays of up to 18 months in being discharged from wardship for reasons including long waits for capacity assessments. After amending laws were signed on Tuesday by President Catherine Connolly, special sittings of the High Court began on Wednesday to extend the discharge deadline for hundreds of adult wards. On Wednesday, High Court president David Barniville and Judge Mark Heslin granted six-month extensions in almost 400 cases. Most extensions are required because functional capacity assessments have yet to be carried out on hundreds of adult wards. Under the 2015 Act, which began in April 2023, all adult wards were to be discharged by April 24th, 2026.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2026 15:45 UTC