Vol. 495 No. 4
241 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when the recommendations in the reports entitled Towards an Independent Future and A Strategy for Equality will be implemented by allocating extra funding for people with disabilities. [20418/98]
The implementation of the recommendations, in respect of the health services, in the reports mentioned by the Deputy is under way. The implementation of the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, A Strategy for Equality, is being examined by an interdepartmental task force chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and will report to Government shortly.
Following publication of the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, in December 1996, additional funding of £3.688 million was provided in the early part of 1997. Since taking office the Government has provided an additional £10 million in 1997 and £8.4 million this year for the development of these services. The co-ordinating committees for the development of services in the sector recommended in the report have been established in each health board. Following a successful pilot project, my Department is in the process of establishing a committee to oversee the setting up of the database on the health service needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities recommended by the group.
In line with the commitments given in Partnership 2000, further progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the reports will take place within overall expenditure parameters. I am not in a position to say what additional funding will be available in 1999.
