The amendment raises two issues regarding access to information, advice and advocacy. On the one hand is disability access and, on the other, nationwide access. I agree with Senators on both issues. The issue of offices being disability-friendly is uppermost in the minds of the National Social Services Board, which includes five members from the disability sector. The development of a national telephone based citizens' information service is being explored through a pilot project in Cork.
With regard to the nationwide spread of offices and the concerns of Senators about the existing position, the NSSB network consists of 35 key full-time CICs at one per county. Of these, 27 are fully operational but all are accessible. Of the remainder about which Senator Ridge was concerned, about 50% of the 50 part-time or mobile centres are accessible. It is the other 50% which need to be addressed by the board. Furthermore, the National Rehabilitation Board has 18 offices throughout the country, all of which are accessible and 11 of which are being transferred to Comhairle. Therefore, the 11 new offices Comh airle will receive from the NRB will be accessible, its 35 key offices are accessible and 50% of its part-time mobile centres are accessible. The other 50% will be addressed by Comhairle and it is a matter which is on the agenda.
The addition of the new NRB offices will enhance the network. The mobile centres allow CICs the opportunity to bring their services into their local communities, especially rural communities. It is important, as Senators have said, that accessibility is assured as we try to reach out throughout the country. Explicit and implicit in the functions of the board as outlined in the Bill is the objective that all information, advice and advocacy is accessible in every sense of the word. There are other issues for the blind and for people suffering from various other sensory difficulties. We intend services to be accessible in the broad sense. To perform these functions effectively, there must be an available network of disability-friendly offices and any strategic plan the board produces would have to include this as a key objective. I understand the board has been requested to ensure the first strategic plan will include it.
On the broader issue of accessibility to public services which is also covered by the amendment, a specific commitment has been agreed in the context of the new partnership agreement, Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, with regard to the accessibility of public services to people with disabilities. The new National Disability Authority will have an important role in monitoring this objective. Paragraphs 19 and 20 of the new Programme for Prosperity and Fairness state:
Each Government Department will ensure that reasonable steps are taken to make its services and those of agencies under its remit accessible to people with disabilities. To facilitate effective action and acceptable standards in this regard, the National Disability Authority will issue guidelines in accordance with international norms and will award an accessibility symbol to compliant public offices. Government Departments and agencies will take all reasonable action to qualify within five years. [There is a timeframe on it in the agreement.]
Adequate resources will be provided to the National Disability Authority and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to monitor, guide and audit progress towards the achievement of this commitment.
There is a strong commitment in the partnership agreement, Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, with regard to the important issue of accessibility to public offices for people with disabilities.