A decision to mainstream the provision of services for people with disabilities and to establish the National Disability Authority was taken by this Government in July 1998. As a result of the new mainstreaming arrangements, vocational training and employment services for people with disabilities will be provided by FÁS, under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; information, advice and advocacy services for people with disabilities will be provided by Comhairle, a new agency being established under the aegis of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; psychology services for schoolchildren with disabilities will be provided by the national educational psychology service – NEPS – under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science; and audiology and non-vocational work and training services for people with disabilities will be provided by the health boards, under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children. The National Disability Authority – NDA – is a new statutory body being established under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The establishment group responsible for overseeing the mainstreaming process is chaired by a senior official from my Department and is finalising arrangements for the transition of these services from their current locus under the National Rehabilitation Board and for establishment of the NDA. It is an essential part of the work of mainstreaming to ensure that the changes are effected with minimum disruption to the needs of existing service users. A detailed and complex planning approach, involving each of the Government Departments and State agencies concerned, has been taken. I am satisfied that the necessary care and consideration is being given to this process to protect and ensure continued provision of services for people with disabilities and to provide the basis for the development of services for people with disabilities based on inclusion.
