Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
801. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when the transfer of delegated functions for his Department in the areas of disability, equality and integration will take place. [22670/20]
View answerThere are two distinct Transfer of Functions underway in relation to new responsibilities for my Department. The first involves a Transfer Order in relation to the areas of disability, equality and integration currently under the Department of Justice. The second relates to disability functions currently under the responsibility of the Department of Health.
I anticipate that the Transfer Order in relation to Justice functions will be made by my colleague, the Minister for Justice very shortly. The Transfer Order for Health functions will take a little longer to complete.
It is necessary for each ‘transferring’ and ‘receiving’ Department to be very clear as to the extent and nature of the legal responsibilities transferring. Work is well underway on all of this and a Project Group has been established within each Department to lead on the completion of the transfer and the integration of responsibilities without any business interuption.
Responsibilities transferring from the Department of Justice cover a wide range of policy, legislative and operational responsibilities. Approx. €120m in exchequer funding and responsibility for over 220 civil and public servants is involved. The transfer includes responsibility for the National Disability Authority and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
In addition to the transfer of functions from the Department of Justice, it is also intended to transfer disability functions currently under the responsibility of the Department of Health to my Department. These services are provided directly by the Health Service Executive and 266 other voluntary organisations. Over €2.2 billion in exchequer funding is involved. Detailed consideration is being given to whether it may be necessary to amend certain Health Acts to achieve this transfer. As a result, this Transfer may take longer to effect given the complexities of the service provision mechanisms and legislative and governance framework for the HSE involved.
