Vol. 497 No. 4
20 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, on the establishment of the disability authority, including the timeframe for establishing the authority through legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25175/98]
The Government decided on 27 July 1998 to adopt the report of the Establishment group for a national disability authority and a disability support service, entitled "Building a Future Together", and on 29 July 1998, I announced the appointment of the board of the new national disability authority. Work on a national disability authority establishment Bill has progressed well and I would expect the Government's commitment to publish the Bill before the end of this session will be met.
An inaugural meeting of the authority was held on 9 September 1998 at which both I and the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for disability and equality, Deputy Mary Wallace, attended. The board is continuing to meet at regular intervals in the lead into its establishment on a statutory basis to ensure that it will be fully operative from the outset. At the same time, work is continuing in the establishment group to put the necessary arrangements in place, in accordance with the Government decision of 27 July 1998, for the transfer of the functions of the National Rehabilitation Board from the Department of Health and Children to each of the Departments concerned under the new arrangements to be introduced in 1999.
