Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Finian McGrath

Question:

229 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will respond immediately to the Irish Wheelchair Association's concerns (details supplied) on services for people with mobility impairment and address this issue urgently. [19574/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

232 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider removing the three year gap on funding for Centres for Independent Living. [21311/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

233 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will waive the eligibility criteria in CIL projects to facilitate continuity of service until the mainstreaming process takes place. [21312/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

234 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider reverting back to the 2002 personal assistance figures on each CIL project. [21313/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

235 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider removing the 50 year age barrier to facilitate CIL projects. [21314/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

236 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will consider reactivating the mainstreaming processes in the near future. [21315/03]

Finian McGrath

Question:

247 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the concerns (details supplied) of the Sligo Centre for Independent Living; and if the maximum support will be given to them. [19798/03]

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

248 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the provision she has made for the community employment projects that are run by an organisation (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the consequences of the lack of progress in the mainstreaming process; and if her attention has further been drawn to the consequences that this will have for people with disabilities and for the personal assistance service. [19899/03]

John Gormley

Question:

262 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will agree to measures (details supplied) proposed by the Sligo Centre for Independent Living. [20582/03]

Finian McGrath

Question:

277 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if support will be given to the Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalic; if its concerns regarding seeking to overcome the dead-force arising as a result of the shelving of mainstreaming and the subsequent erosion of service provided by community employment will be addressed; and if it will be given the maximum assistance. [21307/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 229, 232 to 236 inclusive, 247, 248, 262 and 277 together.

In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, CE, participation levels are gradually being reduced reflecting a strategic shift in policy in favour of training and other more appropriate supports. The average participation rate on the CE programme during 2003 is expected to be in the region of 22,500 with a projected year-end participation rate of 20,000.

All health service related CE projects, including those providing services for persons with disabilities, are currently ring-fenced from reductions and have been since March 2002. Sponsor organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Centres for Independent Living have indicated that they are experiencing difficulty in replacing participants who have completed their normal term on CE due to the lack of suitable applicants coming forward for the programme. In this regard, FÁS has confirmed that it will give every support and assistance to such projects in recruiting suitable participants for the positions in question thus ensuring ongoing service provision. Should FÁS encounter difficulties in replacing departing CE participants with suitable persons, the matter can be considered in the context of the 20% flexibility in relation to extending CE participation.

FÁS has discretion to offer up to 20% of the total number of CE participants a further period on the programme on a case-by-case basis. Participants are considered for an extension if on reaching the end of their normal entitlements on CE they are likely to experience difficulty in getting employment due to their age, literacy or numeracy problems or a lack of suitable jobs available locally.

Additional funding would be required by the Department of Health and Children to mainstream CE health services. Decisions on the future funding and structure of CE will be taken in the context of the Estimates provision for 2004. Any decision taken will have regard to the outcome of the current reviews of the programme which are nearing completion.