asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, for the publication of a Green Paper on the needs of the disabled and for the introduction of a Disabled Persons Bill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Need of the Disabled.
2.
There are no plans for a Green Paper or Bill of this kind. However, it is my aim, as Minister for Health, to give particular attention to the needs of handicapped persons, in close collaboration with other Ministers who have special responsibilities in relation to disabled people.
Is the Minister aware that Alfred Morris, Minister for the Disabled in Britain, said that millions of people benefited from an Act such as the Chronically Ill and Disabled Persons Act? In view of this, would the Minister reconsider?
I consider that legislation is not a deterrent to the provision of services needed by the handicapped. The greatest needs are being identified. A working group of health board representatives in consultation with the Department of Health, the National Rehabilitation Board and the Medico-Social Research Board have considered arrangements for the introduction of a common form of registration of physically handicapped persons. This committee have just completed their work and it is hoped to get the new form of registration under way in the coming months. The Eastern Health Board have already undertaken a special survey of the physically handicapped in their own area to ascertain the nature and extent of their needs and this survey will be completed within two to three months.
In addition, various other steps are currently being taken. In relation to the International Year of the Disabled it is intended to establish a national steering committee to promote the concept of the year and to focus attention on the needs of the disabled. This will be a special opportunity to review our policies and programmes and to propose improvements in services. I have recently made arrangements for the strengthening of the National Rehabilitation Board. This has been done in conjunction with the board and has been particularly well received by them.
In view of the fact that next year is the International Year of the Disabled, would the Minister consider Deputy O'Connell's suggestion and also consider that such a Bill should have a much wider content than has so far been intimated? It should include especially the design and accessibility of public buildings and the placing of such things as street furniture which can add to the disadvantages of the disabled.
I expect that the work of the steering committee will bring to the surface the needs which are not at present catered for. There are various other reports in relation to this matter and if it seems that legislation is required to make further progress, then we would not be against it.
Is the Minister aware that there is no comprehensive formula by which we can find out the number of disabled persons? Would the Minister engage the services of the CSO to help with the numeration of these people on a comprehensive basis?
One of the purposes of the common form of registration of physically handicapped people would be to provide this kind of information and I would hope once this scheme gets under way that the information will be available.