Austin Currie
Question:1 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the action, if any, he intends to take to ensure the elimination of inequality in the treatment of carers who look after the handicapped.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Anti-Discrimination Legislation.
Trevor Sargent
Question:14 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in introducing anti-discrimination legislation.
Austin Deasy
Question:23 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number of clubs, both sporting and social that have been refused grants because they do not have equal rights for both men and women.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:24 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether he has completed a survey of clubs in the country; the number thereof licensed and unlicensed; and the number of them in which alleged discriminating practices apply.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 14, 23 and 24 together.
I intend to bring forward, in the course of this year, equality legislation covering employment and non-employment areas and dealing with discrimination on a wide range of grounds including age and disability. This legislation is complex and both Government Departments and outside interests have to be consulted fully.
The terms of reference of the commission on the Status of People with Disabilities require the commission, inter alia, to advise the Government on practical measures necessary to ensure that people with disabilities can exercise their rights to participate, to the fullest extent of their potential, in economic, social and cultural life. In the course of its deliberations, the commission will take account of the situation of carers. On receipt of the commission's recommendations, I shall re-examine the position to see what further action, in addition to anti-discrimination legislation, may be necessary to strengthen and promote the rights of people with disabilities and their carers.
I have not undertaken any survey of clubs. My Department does not administer any grants for social or sporting clubs.
The Minister has replied to a question I did not ask and about which we have heard before in the House. I would draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the carers were the central point of my question. Is he aware that many of these people deserve the epitaph of living saints? The caring that many of them engage in is effectively a vocation and we should do what we can for them.
Society will never be able to repay the debt it owes to these people. Would the Minister agree also that many carers are treated unfairly by the State despite the fact they are doing a job which, in many societies, would be the responsibility of the State? Is he aware, for example, that approximately 50,000 people applied for the carer's allowance when it was first introduced and that about 4,500 were granted the allowance?
In at least one health board region some of those who are in the caring category, namely, the home helps, are paid less than £2 per week despite the fact that if the people they are looking after had to go into an institution it would cost approximately £200 per week?
I am concerned about the length of the questioning having regard to the time factor involved, for dealing with these questions.
Is the Minister aware that because of the inadequacy of public funding old and handicapped people are placed in institutional care in this the International Year of the Family and that this treatment is anti-family? Is the Minister prepared to act in this regard?
As this is the first occasion Deputy Currie participated at Question Time in his new position as his party's spokesperson on equality and law reform, I welcome him and look forward to debating many issues with him.
I agree with the Deputy and wish to pay tribute to the magnificent work carried out by so many thousands of carers. They make a great contribution to the social life here and fulfil a critical and essential role. Some aspects of the working position of both carers and home helps are matters for the Ministers for Social Welfare and Health. If Deputy Currie tables questions to them on the treatment of carers and home helps they would be happy to reply. The equality aspects of their work will be dealt with in the legislation on equality being prepared and the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities will be examining all aspects of the position of carers, including the social cultural and economic aspects of their work with disabled people. The recommendations of the commission will be given sympathetic consideration in my Department.
I thank the Minister for his remarks of welcome. I look forward also to a long association but with the roles reversed; the Minister on this side of the House and we on the Government side. That would be a fair exchange after a comparatively short period.
While I accept the Minister's remarks about tabling questions to the Ministers for Health and Social Welfare, there is an inequality aspect to this that is worthy of his consideration, particularly in the case, for example, of the respite care scheme which allows carers take a few days off from their arduous work. It is very unequal that due to a lack of funds or isolation local voluntary groups cannot help carers. Something should be done about this equality issue.
Arrangements regarding respite care, as I understand it, come under the ambit of the health boards and the Minister for Health.
The Minister is also responsible for women's affairs.
I am sure the Minister for Health will be happy to deal with a question on the respite care arrangements.
Is the Minister going to ignore women?