Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Mr. Ring:

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion on the Adjournment. This is a very important issue for north Mayo. The Irish Wheelchair Association development in Belmullet is very worthy and is needed in the area, along with the local Belmullet wheelchair association. For years the IWA members have been waiting and planning for a project such as this. At last they thought they saw light at the end of the tunnel. They recently acquired planning permission from Mayo County Council and everything was ready to go. They were hoping to build a resource centre, facilities for respite care, an enterprise unit and social housing. All that is missing is the money. This money has been promised in the national development plan for 2004, but the project is now ready to go. I know there are many projects throughout the country that are not yet at the planning stage, but this one is.

As the Minister of State knows, Belmullet, in North Mayo, is an area that has suffered a lot over the years. It has certainly received very little from the Government. There is no public rail service and no DART. There are no proper roads. There is no national primary route into the town. Yet in the next year or so, gas will be taken from north Mayo and the people of the area will be left behind again. This is an opportunity for the Government, and particularly the Minister for Health and Children, to show good will towards the people of north Mayo, especially the wheelchair association, who need a project such as this. If people in north Mayo have to go to Mayo General Hospital they must travel almost 60 miles. If they have to go to Galway hospital it is almost 100 miles.

The association is ready to start the project. It has the site, the planning permission and a committee in place to do whatever voluntary work must be done. They are ready, willing and able to do it. What is needed is approval from the Minister. All he would have to do is to move the approval forward a year. If anybody deserves it, those people do. The Government talks a lot about trying to keep people in rural areas. We see report after report, commission after commission, saying that we should try to keep people in rural areas. A number of years ago the first wheelchair-accessible bus came to north Mayo. It brought them out: they were able to go swimming and shopping. It gave them a new lease of life. They have been planning and looking forward to this project for years and they are disappointed that the funding is not in place. I am asking the Minister to approve the capital finances for this project for this year. If he does that, it will mean a lot to the people of north Mayo and to the wheelchair association. The Minister told us last year that the money was there. I have no doubt that there are a few hidden cheques in the Department. This is one that we want.

Mr. Callely:

If the Deputy knows where those hidden cheques are, he should let me know. I would be happy to cash them for him. On a serious note, I want to indicate my appreciation for the good work done by the IWA. I am closely associated with it and my wife is very involved, in a voluntary capacity, with the good work being carried out by the IWA. I hope it continues to provide its excellent services to the many people who need them.

The provision of services for people with disabilities, particularly the case mentioned, is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has, since 1997, allocated significant levels of funding across the disability sector which has resulted in substantial advances in the quality and quantity of the health-related services being provided to people with disabilities. Additional funding of €27 million has been allocated to services for persons with disabilities and those with autism in 2003 to meet the full year costs of the 2002 developments and to enhance further the services in the sector. This funding is in addition to the very significant revenue investment, amounting to €288 million, which has been made in these services in recent years and which is built into the ongoing budget base.

The additional funding provided by this and the previous Government between 2000 and 2002 was used to put in place, in addition to a range of other services, more than 900 new residential places, 380 new respite places and around 2,000 new day places for people with an intellectual disability and those with autism. Between 2000 and 2003, additional ongoing revenue has been provided to the Western Health Board for the provision of health-related services for people with disabilities and those with autism. Priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of health-related services are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disabilities.

I understand that the proposal from the Irish Wheelchair Association to provide respite units in Belmullet, County Mayo, is scheduled for development by the Western Health Board under the national development plan for 2004. My Department is at present reviewing the capital funding position of each health board with a view to identifying what flexibility exists for new developments and this project will be examined in that context.