Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 7

Written Answers. - Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities.

Derek McDowell

Question:

92 Mr. D. McDowell asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the funding, if any, he has secured in order to implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5852/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

The recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities are currently being examined by an interdepartmental task force which will draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities, based on the commission's report. Until the Government has had the opportunity to consider this plan, it would be premature to seek funding in so far as implementation of the recommendations is concerned.

However, the Government did allocate £500,000 towards disability in this year's budget. The provision of £200,000 from this figure, combined with £100,000 already provided for in my Department's Estimate, means that £300,000 will be available to fund the work of the interim Council for the Status of People with Disabilities in 1997. It is intended to use the remainder to institute a number of innovative projects aimed at promoting equality for people with disabilities as well as meeting the costs of both the monitoring committee being established to monitor implementation of the commission's recommendations and follow-up administrative costs associated with the work of the commission.