Mary Wallace
Question:19 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the way in which he proposes to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities which affect his Department. [22300/96]
Priority Questions. - Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities.
The report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities was published last week. Arising from the findings contained in the report, the Government has decided to prepare a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities. The Minister for Equality and Law Reform has also been authorised to establish a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the commission's recommendations.
The monitoring committee will comprise organisations representing people with disabilities, their families and carers and service providers. In addition, social partners and Departments, including my Department, will be represented on the committee. The Minister for Equality and Law Reform will also establish an interdepartmental task force to prepare the Government's plan of action. When this has been agreed I will be in a position to indicate the steps which my Department will take to implement the recommendations for which my Department has responsibility.
What is the Minister's attitude to the commission's recommendation regarding a non means tested allowance to cover the costs of disability? This suggestion has been discussed for some time. People with disabilities have difficulty taking up jobs because they lose their allowances based on means tests.
The commission made a number of interesting recommendations, some of which relate to the work of my Department. There is an anxiety on the part of some people that matters dealt with by other Departments should be transferred to the Department of Social Welfare. I take that as a vote of confidence in the operation of my Department and the caring attitude of its staff.
The recommendations in the commission's report which specifically relate to my Department refer to the establishment of a non means tested payment to compensate for loss of income due to an incapacity for full-time work or to work to full potential, to be known as a disability pension. I understand the intention is to amalgamate the invalidity pension and the disability allowance in one pension payment. My Department will consider the matter in the context of the development of the system generally. The report also proposes the establishment of a graduated payment to meet the additional costs associated with disability. This matter also needs to be addressed and my Department will consider it.
All the issues must be examined in the context of available resources and the services provided by other Departments and what they may do in terms of responding to the matters relating to them. This is why the Minister for Equality and Law Reform will establish an interdepartmental task force to prepare the Government's plan of action. The matters must be agreed by Government in a co-ordinated manner so the services sought and delivered by all Departments do not counteract each other or act as a disincentive. It is important to await the action plan which will be prepared by the interdepartmental task force. At that point I will be in a much better position to advise the Deputy regarding the steps my Department will take in relation to the commission's recommendations.
The same position applied to various commission reports. For example, a monitoring committee determined what each Department had done to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of Women. I am anxious to establish whether the Department of Social Welfare has read the recommendations which specifically relate to it and its intentions in that regard. The proposal for a cost of disability allowance has been around for some time and it has been backed by the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. We have been told for the past two years that we must await the commission's report before decisions are taken on such issues. However, the commission has reported and made strong recommendations. We should not wait for a monitoring committee to determine the position.
Another strong recommendation in the commission's report relates to the Department of Social Welfare's payment of £30 million a year to CIÉ for the free travel scheme. However, the buses continue to be inaccessible to people with disabilities. On 20 June 1995 the Minister stated that he would review this issue. On 25 September he again said he would review it as consultations were still ongoing. Has any progress been made? The Commission made a strong recommendation regarding the accessibility of buses and said it wanted progress by 1 January.
The Deputy is aware that the report only recently became available. However, the Government has already decided to establish a monitoring committee and an interdepartmental task force to ensure a co-ordinated and coherent response to the report. It is unreasonable of the Deputy to expect instant solutions to problems which have existed for generations. The Government is determined to ensure the best services possible are made available to people to cope with disabilities of various types.
The transport issue is a separate question. A number of parliamentary questions on today's Order Paper relate to that matter and I will deal with it when the questions are reached.
The monitoring committee the Minister mentioned should monitor the progress in each Department regarding the implementation of the 400 recommendations in the commission's report. I hope the Minister is not suggesting that we must await the outcome of the monitoring committee because it should deal with the progress in the Department of Social Welfare regarding the recommendations which apply to it. Specific proposals in the commission's report relate to the Department of Social Welfare, including the cost of disability allowance and accessibility of buses. The Minister's Department should deal with those matters now so the monitoring committee can report on its progress. This is the purpose of a monitoring committee.
The Deputy is aware that two groups will be established. The interdepartmental task force will prepare the Government's plan of action. Departments are examining the report and will respond to it. The task force will prepare a Government plan of action based on what each Department considers can be done. On that basis the monitoring committee will be established to monitor progress. on the action plan. The monitoring committee to oversee implementation of the commission's recommendations will comprise organisations representing people with disabilities, their families, carers and service providers. In addition, social partners and Government Departments, including my Department, will be represented on it. A partnership approach will be adopted in terms of this report and there is no need for confrontation on these matters.
The commission identified a number of important recommendations about what needs to be done in this area and the Government is determined to deal with those matters. We moved very quickly on the decision to establish a monitoring committee and a task force to prepare an action plan and progress is being made. I understand the Deputy's impatience. We are all impatient to ensure these issues are dealt with and the Government will quickly deal with them.