Vol. 488 No. 6
36 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6631/98]
44 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6630/98]
57 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6633/98]
74 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6634/98]
78 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6632/98]
82 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6629/98]
105 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6635/98]
115 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has for the development of the concept of independent living for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6628/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 44, 57, 74, 78, 82, 105 and 115 together.
Independent living is defined in the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities as the ability to decide and to choose what a person wants, where to live and how, what to do and how to set about doing it. It also involves establishing and taking control of the total management of a person's everyday life and affairs. The philosophy behind it is generally defined as living like everyone else, having the rights to self-determination, to exert control over one's life, to have opportunities to make decisions, to take responsibility and to pursue activities of one's own choosing, regardless of disability.
The development of a personal assistance service was examined by the Advisory Group on Personal Assistance which was established by the Minister for Health and Children and which recommended, inter alia, that funding of a personal assistance service should be considered in the context of the development of support services generally for people with disabilities. In the meantime, the Deputies will be pleased to note that the Government has allocated £8.4 million in 1998 to improve services specifically for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This includes funding for new services, including provision for the development of independent living-home support services, including personal assistance services. It is intended to continue, resources permitting, to develop these services in the coming years. The priorities for spending these funds will be determined by the health boards' in consultation with the local voluntary organisations, through the new co-ordinating committees.
