Vol. 456 No. 7
113 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the names of each group representing people with disabilities with which he has met in each of the last ten months in regard to issues concerning the disabled person's maintenance allowance. [14673/95]
There is a wide range of organisations representing people with disabilities who have an interest in the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme. In the context of the transfer of the scheme from the health boards to my Department initial discussions have been arranged with national organisations representing people with disabilities to discuss their views and to consider future meetings and contacts.
The organisations involved include the Disability Federation of Ireland; the Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Mental Handicap; the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped; the Mental Health Association and the Irish Wheelchair Association and a meeting with these organisations will take place shortly. Meetings have already been held with the National Rehabilitation Board and with the COPE Foundation in Cork who provide training and care for approximately 1,500 mentally and physically handicapped clients.
These meetings provide an important source of information and feedback to my Department to assist with the process of transfer and the further development of the disabled person's maintenance allowance scheme. In this regard, I will also take account of any recommendations emerging from the work of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities.
