Written Answers. - Services for Disabled.
Helen Keogh
Question:
29
Ms Keogh
asked the
Minister for Equality and Law Reform
if he intends to proceed immediately with those aspects of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities which were identified as particularly urgent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12422/97]
The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities identified six areas requiring prompt attention with regard to implementing its recommendations. These relate to the establishing of a special programme for the replacement of existing sub-standard facilities being used by people with disabilities; funding for the Irish Council of People with Disabilities; revision of the EU Treaties; the shortage of sheltered work-places; the retention and resources of the Department of Equality and Law Reform and the accessibility of all new and used rail and rolling stock and road vehicles ordered for public transport from 1 January 1997.
These recommendations are being considered by the interdepartmental task force as part of its overall consideration of the Commission's report and its preparation of the plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities. However, there have been developments in relation to most of these issues already.
In this connection, I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Health, has been working with the health boards over a number of years to transfer persons with a mental handicap who are currently inappropriately placed to more appropriate care settings. St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, has the largest concentration of this group and has been specifically targeted by my colleague in this programme.
My colleague has indicated that additional funding is being provided in 1997 to continue this programme. In this regard, £625,000 revenue funding is being made available to the Eastern Health Board to facilitate the transfer of 50 persons with a mental handicap from St. Ita's, Portrane, to a number of new residential facilities on the north and south sides of Dublin. Capital funding of £250,000 is also being available to furnish and equip the new facilities and revenue funding of £100,000 was also included in the board's 1997 allocation to assist in meeting with the changing needs of the clients in St. Ita's. In respect of the recommendation on funding of the council, I have provided a total of £300,000 to fund the work of the Irish Council of People with Disabilities in 1997.
In the discussions at the intergovernmental conference, Ireland has been a strong advocate of the creation of a competence on the part of the European Community to legislate against discrimination on the grounds of disability. In fact, the White Paper on Foreign Policy referred to this very issue. The outline for a revision of the Treaties, submitted by the Irish Presidency to the Dublin 11 European Council, contained a provision which would create the competence I have mentioned in relation to disability and other grounds. There have been further exchanges in the course of the current Dutch Presidency and, again, the Irish Government has supported the reference to disability in the clause in question.
Partnership 2000 for Inclusion, Employment and Competiveness provides for targeting an additional 500 sheltered employment places over the period of the partnership.
The Interdepartmental Transport Accessibility Committee, on which my Department is represented, is continuing to operate under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications. I understand that Dublin Bus will be taking delivery of five large-capacity low-floor buses later this year and that the "Omni-link" service continues to operate in Dublin. Dublin Bus is, I am informed, going ahead with bus stop improvements to include Braille information. Bus Éireann has introduced a large-capacity low-floor bus in Cork, which has proved popular. In relation to Iarnrod Éireann, I understand that the company is currently examining new railcars and that the new public announcement system in DART stations will include a real-time display of when the next train is due. In addition, I am informed that access to DART stations is being continuously reviewed.
I have also expressed my firm belief that there will be a continuing need for the Department of Equality and Law Reform. The Department should be retained into the future with a renewed and expanded brief to pursue equality for all, including people with disabilities. I would be interested to hear the views of other Members of the House on this issue, particularly from Members opposite as to their own parties' policies.
