asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the activities of persons or groups who arrange exhibitions of the work of the handicapped for private gain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Exhibitions of Work of Handicapped Persons.
18.
I am aware that exhibitions of work purporting to be the work of handicapped persons have been held in many parts of the country, mainly in hotels, and that considerable numbers of tickets for admission to these exhibitions were sold. It is reasonable to assume that members of the public buying the tickets were under the impression that the proceeds would be devoted to the care of the mentally and physically handicapped, but in many cases I have been unable to trace that they were. Indeed, in several instances, bodies dealing with the handicapped lent material for exhibition, under the same impression, and experienced the greatest difficulty in having the material returned or paid for.
The National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland found it necessary in July last to warn all affiliated associations of the need to assure themselves of the bona fides of the organisers before lending any support to fund-raising activities of the kind mentioned. A similar warning was issued by my Department to mental hospital authorities in August last. In spite of this, I understand exhibitions are still being arranged. In this country, in recent years, a number of dedicated voluntary bodies have been formed to help the handicapped and an immense amount of good will has been created. It is most regrettable that unscrupulous persons should try to cash in on this goodwill. Members of the general public before contributing to any fund-raising activities, ostensibly on behalf of handicapped persons, have not the means of assuring themselves that the proceeds will, in fact, be devoted to this purpose, but the activities of undesirable elements would be very much curtailed if hoteliers and others who may be approached with a view to providing venues for these exhibitions were to refuse facilities in all cases in which the application was not supported by reputable local people known to them.
Can the Minister say if there is power to punish people who have been found exploiting mentally handicapped people for their personal gain?
I hope that the mere drawing of attention publicly to it will render any other action unnecessary but I can assure the Deputy that if it becomes necessary to take additional steps later on, I will be only too ready to do so.