asked the Minister for Health if he has made any investigations into the nature and scale of services available for the permanently disabled in countries of the EEC; if so, how these services compare with services currently provided in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Services for Disabled.
19.
Answering the Deputy's question on the basis that it relates to health services for the permanently disabled, I have not specifically had any investigations made into the nature and scale of such services available in the member countries of the European Economic Communities. Such health services as it is found necessary to provide for the permanently disabled are provided for appropriately in this country. In this respect, I should say that these services, in common with other health services, are reviewed regularly and such review naturally would take account of developments in other countries.
If defects are found to exist in the services they are remedied and if improvements are found to be necessary then provision is made for such improvements taking account of the availability of resources of finance, buildings, equipment, and personnel.
In view of our imminent entry into the EEC and the statements that it is envisaged there will be harmonisation of these services, would the Minister not consider it advisable that his Department should undertake a study of existing services in the EEC and see where any defects that may exist could be rectified? Before any plans are made regarding harmonisation, will the Minister consider these aspects?
We have made sufficient progress on a steady basis. This is not an urgent matter but naturally it would be in our interests to examine the services that are available in the EEC in order to ensure that, as soon as possible, our standards will compare favourably with the standards obtaining in the EEC. As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Social Welfare proposes to bring measures before the House for changes in the national assistance schemes which will relate to disabled persons. There have been changes in the social welfare code in relation to invalidity pensions and occupational injury pensions. Grants for disabled persons provided by the health boards have been increased and in October, 1971, further help was given to certain categories of disadvantaged people and free drugs and free hospital services were given to those under 16 years. We are making steady progress.
20.
asked the Minister for Health if the Government have any plans for the introduction of a national income scheme for the disabled; and whether his Department have given any consideration to drawing up a disabled persons' charter of rights.
Payments to the disabled are at present provided by way of social insurance benefits under the Social Welfare Acts or disabled persons maintenance allowances under the Health Acts.
I might add the latter service is under review as part of the over-all examination of the social assistance services which my colleague the Minister for Social Welfare is carrying out at present.
I am not at all clear as to what the Deputy has in mind in his reference to a charter of rights for the disabled. The disabled have the same rights as other people in the community and it has been an object of policy, as it is a prime objective of the disabled themselves, that they should fit in as far as possible into the normal life of the community in terms of work, social life, and in every other way. The achievement of this objective does of course involve special helps whether in the fields of health care, vocational guidance, training for employment having regard to the limitation imposed by the disability and help in placement. The idea of a charter of rights related to the disabled conveys in its ordinary meaning a suggestion of setting the disabled apart from the general community. This approach is not considered to be in the best interests of the total welfare of the disabled and I am not aware of any demand of this kind from the disabled themselves.
Would the Minister care to examine the charter of rights granted to disabled persons in Great Britain, which could scarcely be described as a backward country? I would suggest that the Minister spend a little time examining that. I also suggest that he might look into what has been granted by the British Government to thalidomide victims in view of his apparent disregard for them.
Even if the British Government have undertaken steps of this kind, I still think the best thing to do is improve the services as we go along but not to separate any particular section of the community through providing them with a charter. I may be wrong, but I cannot see any point in it. Modern policy in regard to this is that they should be integrated in the community as much as possible and not distinct.
But we must ensure——
I am calling Question No. 21. I am trying to get on with Questions. We have only one hour today and the Deputy is monopolising Question Time.
The Minister seems to be unaware that there is a charter of rights for them in Britain.