Vol. 474 No. 1
94 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the special meetings, if any, he held with the Departments of Health or Education concerning disability matters in advance of the publication of the 1997 budget. [2591/97]
I am aware of and support the initiatives being taken by my colleague, the Minister for Health, to improve services for people with an intellectual disability.
My Department is in regular contact with the Department of Health in relation to the situation of people with disabilities and their families. An officer from my Department was a member of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, whose report was published in December 1996. The recommendations of the review group are being considered, in conjunction with the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, by the interdepartmental task force which I established to draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities. I anticipate that the task force will have completed its work around the middle of the year.
In addition, my Department is represented on the committee established by the Minister for Health to review the pilot programme for the employment of people with disabilities.
95 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the nature and extent of any discussions which his Department has held with the Department of Social Welfare concerning the promotion of access to public transport for people with disabilities who hold travel passes. [2592/97]
The promotion of access to public transport for people with disabilities who hold travel passes was one of the many recommendations made by the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in its report which was published last November. This issue falls to be dealt with in the context of the work of the interdepartmental task force which I established to draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities arising from the commission's report. The Department of Social Welfare is represented on the interdepartmental task force.
96 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the discussions, if any, which he has held with the interim council for the status of people with disabilities concerning the council's ongoing funding needs; whether the council has submitted a proposal to his Department on the matter; the level of funding requested by the council; the level of funding which he intends to allocate to the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2593/97]
The interim council for the status of people with disabilities is not due to be established until March of this year so the question of discussions with the council does not arise at this stage. However, I have received representations from the ad-hoc establishment group, which was established to facilitate the setting up of the council, regarding the expected funding needs of the council. The ad-hoc establishment group requested that circa £330,000 be made available in this regard in 1997.
Having regard to the cost associated with disability, I am allocating £300,000 to fund the work of the council in 1997.
