asked the Minister for Health if he will make a substantial grant available to the National Association of Disabled Drivers to enable them to complete their headquarters and training centre at Ballindine, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Association of Disabled Drivers.
37.
As the Deputy is probably aware, I recently received a report of a working party on the training and employment of handicapped persons. It recommended a national structure of training centres and sheltered workshops and I have, in general, accepted its scheme. I intend asking the National Rehabilitation Board to examine the various proposals that have been put forward, including that for a centre at Ballindine, and to decide whether they are in accordance with the principles of the working party report. As it will first be necessary to strengthen the board's technical staff, I cannot yet say when decisions are likely to be made; but I am most anxious to push ahead with the improvement of rehabilitation arrangements for the handicapped as soon as personnel and financial resources permit.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that the National Association of Disabled Drivers are a very active and progressive organisation, that they have embarked on a programme of providing themselves with a headquarters and a training centre at Ballindine at a cost of £200,000, and that out of their own efforts they have succeeded in collecting £50,000? Apart from his examination and pending his decisions on the general rehabilitation programme, in view of the enthusiasm and the activities of this association would the Minister be prepared to make a grant immediately available to Ballindine since it is already under construction and, no matter what decision the Minister ultimately comes to, Ballindine must fit it into his decision somewhere?
I agree that they are a very active organisation but, at this stage, I would not be prepared to commit myself to giving a grant until the matter has been investigated by the National Rehabilitation Board. The Deputy is probably aware that this building was started without the knowledge of the Department of Health. I had discussions with some representatives in May, 1974, and recently the programme manager from the Western Health Board had discussions with them with regard to the whole structure and the purpose for which the structure will be used. The association have some reservations as to what type of persons should be trained there.
The National Rehabilitation Board, in accordance with the report of the working party on the training and employment of handicapped people, took the view that people other than those physically handicapped should be included, but there were very strong objections from the association. I think the Deputy will agree that there should not be any barrier or any segregations in regard to any handicap physical or mental. The Association of Disabled Drivers at Ballindine have rejected to date, so far as I know, any proposal that there should be integration of all those who are physically handicapped.
Apart from that I think the Deputy will also agree-and I do not want to decry the efforts of these people— that this institution is not located in a particularly suitable area. It is ten miles from the nearest big town, so far as I remember, and four miles from a smaller town. It does not seem to have the facilities and amenities which would be in a larger area, or a built up area. It appears to me that it would be difficult to staff the centre properly in view of its distance from Tuam which is ten miles away. I would be very reluctant, as one of my Fianna Fáil predecessors was not, to row in with a project to the extent of giving money for a project of which he had no knowledge whatsoever until the structure was up to a certain level.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that these are very self-reliant people and that is a good thing? Having regard to the very nature of their disability, the fact that they are self-reliant and anxious to help themselves to the greatest possible extent was responsible for their deciding to go ahead with their own training centre and their own headquarters. Does the Minister not think that, in all the circumstances, that sort of effort by a body of disabled people should be encouraged? Now that the centre is under way and they have shown such tremendous——
The Deputy seems to be making an argument.
I want to try to get the Minister's mind clear on this because of its importance to the people concerned. In view of the fact that they have gone to the extent of raising £50,000 by their own efforts, would he not consider that they deserve special consideration? Even if the centre was proceeded with without the knowledge of the Department, now that the Minister is fully aware of it, and fully aware of what these people are trying to do for themselves, as distinct from other persons in our community who rely on the State to do everything for them, would he reconsider his attitude in this regard?
The Deputy is making an argument at Question Time.
I will not make any commitment, as I told the Deputy, until the National Rehabilitation Board have seen these people again, and examined the project, and recommended whether or not they should get a grant.
Would the Minister be prepared to arrange an early meeting between these people and the National Rehabilitation Board with a view to the process to which he has referred being gone through?
I have already indicated that the National Rehabilitation Board will examine this institution.
At an early date?
I cannot give a date because the working party report has only been in for the past month or two.