asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the level of payment for physically handicapped people employed in sheltered workshops, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pay of Physically Handicapped.
17.
I am considering this and other matters concerned with the interests of handicapped persons on which representations were made to me recently, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
Is the Minister in a position now to tell us what the level of payment is?
I have the figures here. Voluntary organisations provide the bulk of the employment and supplement the disabled persons' allowance of the health boards by amounts varying from £2 to £12 per week. The Rehabilitation Institute tell me that about half their workers get the top rate. Persons getting only £2 per week would be working at a very low level in not much more than a care setting or in the early stages of activation.
These organisations provide printed matter for the health boards. Is the Minister aware that the health boards are actually conspiring in the exploitation of these people by encouraging the work of these places in which they are paid such small amounts of money? Would the Minister agree with such a policy of the health boards?
I recognise that these rates are very low. It would be my wish to try to increase them whenever I have the resources to do so.
It is not a question of the wages being low; it is a question of exploiting these poor people. Would the Minister not take immediate steps to remedy this situation or stop it completely? To pay a person £2 per week is exploitation of less privileged and disabled people. The Minister should never condone that. When does he expect to take the necessary measures to stop this exploitation?
What is the maximum?
The supplement varies between £2 and £12 per week.
Is the Minister content with that?
No. I have told the Deputy I am not.
Is he prepared to take action?
I will do what I can as the resources available to me permit.
Would the Minister have consultations with the health boards? They accept the lowest tenders from these organisations who are paying such low wages to these people and in this way the health boards may be encouraging this exploitation.
It is important that these workshops have an outlet for their products.
Not at that cost. When does the Minister expect to take action?
As resources become available to me.
That is a very ambiguous statement. Will the Minister look into the matter?
I have some resources and I may make an announcement within the next day or two about using resources for the handicapped in a different way. It is a matter of deciding the best way to use available resources.
Could the money available from the EEC not be used to aid the handicapped?
The Deputy is pursuing this matter by way of argument.
EEC funds are already used. It is a £ for £ situation.
Would the Minister not agree that this is an area in which EEC funds could best be used?
There are many areas.
Surely the Minister will not allow the word "exploitation" to be associated with the Rehabilitation Institute.
I distinctly rejected the word "exploitation".
The Minister should make it very clear to the House that he does not condone the use of the word "exploitation" in connection with these voluntary organisations.
I have said that. This is my attitude.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I fully endorse the praise implicit in what Deputy Boland said about the voluntary organisations and workshops. They are the most hopeful developments in this area.
Would the Minister not agree that the voluntary organisations are being compelled——
The Deputy has already given notice of his wish to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
It is a different matter to accuse them of exploitation.
It is exploitation.