Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020
451. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when legislation will be brought forward for personal assistance services as a right in law, as per the motion unanimously supported by all parties and independents on 29 November 2019. [44204/20]
View answerThe area of disability services is a priority area for this Government. To support people with a disability, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €100 million is being provided for new disability measures next year under Budget 2021. These measures will include an additional 80,000 personal assistant hours. The 2020 national service plan details that the HSE is seeking to deliver 1.67m hours of Personal Assistant Hours to over 2,550 people.
Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018 and the obligations arising from the Convention will be met over time. Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD) outlines that State Parties to the Convention shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community. The Government is working to ensure that People with Disabilities be allowed to live an independent life of their own choosing, the same as any other person, and this is consistent with the disability reform policy - “Transforming Lives”.
The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives. The Programme for Government agreed to deliver further increased Personal Assistance hours.
The Programme for Government also commits to the development of an implementation plan to co-ordinate implementation of the UNCRPD. This would include how best to ensure that people with disabilities can access the support services, including personal assistance, that they require to participate in their community.
