Vol. 533 No. 3
178 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has costed the proposal by the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities that each disabled person should be entitled to a statement of needs, underpinned by law; if so, the findings in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9089/01]
The proposal that the needs of individuals with disability should be dealt with on a statutory basis has not been accepted, as is made clear in the progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities entitled, "Towards Equal Citizenship". The needs of those with disability are being met in more flexible ways. A database of persons with intellectual disability has been established and one for those with physical and sensory disability is being developed. These provide the basis for planning for health and personal social services. In addition, a working group is examining the feasibility of introducing a cost of disability payment and the training of those with disability has been restructured. Resources devoted to services for persons with disability have been greatly increased in recent years and, for example, additional spending in the health area alone will amount to over £310 million in the lifetime of the present Government up to the end of this year.
