Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Jul 1995

Vol. 455 No. 4

Written Answers. - Review Group on Physical or Sensory Disabilities.

Mary Wallace

Question:

62 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings held by the Review Group on Physical and Sensory Disability Services over the last 12 months; the number of persons in attendance at each group meeting; the number of bodies consulted by the group in compiling its report; the date he expects to receive the group's final report; the date he expects to publish the final report: the consultation procedures he intends to undertake following the publication of the report; and whether Members of the Oireachtas will be given an early opportunity to discuss the group's final report. [12354/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The Review Group on Services for people with Physical or Sensory Disabilities was established in June 1992 to review and make recommendations on health services for people with physical disabilities. The group has 16 members. A table setting out the number of members in attendance at each meeting follows.

The group held its 16th meeting in May 1994. Following this meeting, the progress of the work of the group was interrupted by a reorganisation within my Department of senior staff as well as an increase in workload in the Physical Disability Section. Accordingly, a member of the group was engaged on a contract basis earlier this year to finalise the existing draft report. The Review Group will be reconvened in the near future to discuss the draft report which has taken into account points raised by the 53 organisations which made submission to the group. It is intended to consult interested organisations before the publication of the report to take account of changes since the group was established. My Department will contact the relevant organisations regarding the details of this consultation process when the draft report is available.

I expect to receive the final report of the Review Group on Physical and Sensory Disability within the next few months. I hope to be in a position to publish the report shortly thereafter following which it will become available to Members of the Oireachtas.

Review Group on Services for People with Physical or Sensory Disabilities Attendance of Members at each Meeting.

Meeting - date	Attendance by Members
30 June 1992	13
18 August 1992	14
15 September 1992	13
15 October 1992	9
12 November 1992	13
8 December 1992	10
27 January 1993	13
16 March 1993	11
10 May 1993	12
22 June 1993	9
5 October 1993	10
16 November 1993	12
14 December 1993	9
8 February 1994	13
22 March 1994	13
19 May 1994	10