National Advocacy Service Ireland

21/08/2026

NAS Advocates act as a catalyst for change through collaboration, capacity building and representation to make the rights of people with disabilities a reality.

17/08/2026

🔊NAS is recruiting for a temporary, part-time Advocate in the Southern Region based in Waterford. Click the link to read more about this fantastic opportunity to work with a lovely bunch of people!

Advocate – Southern Region – Temporary, Part-time (17.5 Hours per week) Office Location – Waterford The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) is seeking to recruit an Advocate for a part-time, temporary position with an expected end date of 31st December 2026. The post w...

12/08/2026

NAS Advocates often receive messages of thanks from people they support. NAS Advocates support people with disabilities who live in residential services, who attend day-services, who live in inappropriate accommodation, who have communications differences, who are isolated from their communities or who have limited natural supports. To find out more about the types of cases NAS works on, see our Casebook from last year:

https://advocacy.ie/app/uploads/2026/03/NAS-Casebook_2025_final-1.pdf

07/08/2026

An enduring power of attorney (EPA) is a legal safeguard that allows you to plan for the future while you are in good health. Áine Flynn, director of Decision Support Service (DSS) discusses the importance of creating an EPA for future-proofing in an article today in The Irish Independent:

“EPAs are fundamentally a good thing. They’re a way of ensuring that your rights are understood, that they’re going to be respected, that you have reposed that confidence in somebody that you know and trust who’s going to do that for you and do it according to a code, according to guiding principles and under our supervision,” she says.

“But fundamentally, it’s giving effect to a human relationship of trust...”

An enduring power of attorney is a legal safeguard that allows you to plan for the future while you are in good health. Yet only 8pc of Irish adults have one

06/08/2026

NAS Advocates support people to exit ward of court arrangements, support people with Decision-making representatives, attend court with people, etc. Access to independent advocacy has become essential towards supporting the guiding principles of the Assisted Decision-Making Act (ADM) and supporting the will and preference of the person for whom decision-making arrangements are being considered.

Before someone makes an application to court, they must check that there is no other option that would be less intrusive on the person. This includes through arrangements such as a decision-making assistance agreement, or a co-decision-making agreement, or other informal supports that would allow the person to keep control of those decisions in their life.

05/08/2026

28/07/2026

🥳The wait is over... It’s here! The Right to Ordinary, the new podcast from Inclusion Ireland, is officially live.

Hosted by our CEO Derval McDonagh, A Right to Ordinary gives us the space to go beyond the headlines and have proper conversations about the issues that matter to people with intellectual disabilities, their families and supporters.

And we’re starting with two episodes available to listen to today.

We’re really proud to finally share it with you.

🎙️Listen to Episode 1 and 2 now on our website here:

https://www.inclusionireland.ie/resources/the-right-to-ordinary-podcast/

or wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you know someone who might find these conversations useful, please do share it with them.

23/07/2026

Advocates often work alongside multidisciplinary teams, including social workers, to ensure people with disabilities have their voices heard and preferences adhered to. This was a message received by an Advocate from a Social Worker expressing their thanks: “Thank you for your unbelievable, ongoing kindness and support of the person and for the letter you wrote supporting their wishes.”

21/07/2026

Inclusion Ireland has launched a new practical guide to help families, supporters and professionals better understand the important role they play in supporting people with intellectual disabilities to make their own decisions. The guide explains:

1) The key principles of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015;
2) The difference between informal and formal decision-making supports;
3) How families and trusted supporters can continue to play an important role when this reflects the person’s will and preferences;
when formal decision support arrangements may be appropriate; and
4) Good practice for disability services and other agencies in involving families and supporters in decision-making.

Read the full guide here:

15/07/2026

"The session was engaging, informative, and provided valuable insight into our role as professionals in supporting individuals to make their own decisions and uphold their human rights."
Our Greater Dublin Region Senior Advocate Ruth McCullagh and Advocate Ian McGahon gave a presentation to staff at St Catherine's Day Service, Wicklow and received lovely feedback from a Day Service Manager. Advocates present to staff in various centres across the country on the work NAS does to ensure people with disabilities can make decisions about their lives and that their wishes are adhered to.