asked the Minister for Labour if he will define the role FÁS may play in making its services available to organisations providing sheltered employment.
32.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Sheltered Employment.
4.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will examine the role FÁS plays in the job placement process for school leavers with a mild mental handicap.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 32 together.
The provision of sheltered employment or separate arrangements for the training and placement of disabled persons including those with a mild handicap is a matter for the Department of Health.
FÁS programmes, including training, are open to disabled persons capable of participating in such programmes and this policy will continue. FÁS would seek the advice of the National Rehabilitation Board where they would have doubts about a disabled person being capable of undertaking the programme or job applied for.
Bodies providing facilities for the disabled may apply under the various FÁS employment schemes to enhance these services — for example, through the refurbishment of premises, the provision of helpers etc.
Is the Minister aware that there has been a sharp decrease in the number of placements of those looking for sheltered employment, both by the National Rehabilitation Board and the National Manpower Service, which we now refer to as FÁS? Is he concerned about that and what is he doing to increase the number of placements available to those who suffer from mild handicap?
I accept what the Deputy says, that the lack of sheltered employment is an increasing problem and it is creating a number of difficulties for the organisations concerned. I do not want to say it is a matter for the Department of Health and the National Rehabilitation Board. As far as FÁS are concerned persons opting for manpower programmes must be capable of participating in open employment schemes while they, FÁS, give any help and assistance they can to such people. But in some cases people require expert advice, guidance and assistance. However, that does not always preclude FÁS from trying to integrate them in schemes with the back-up and after-care services of the National Rehabilitation Board or from advising them.
It is my understanding that at present FÁS are obliged to retain 3 per cent of their places for disabled persons. Is the Minister happy that this 3 per cent ratio is being fully taken up and that they are honouring their obligation to the disabled?
I understand they are because, in so far as is possible, they endeavour to rule people in rather than out. But the difficulty that has arisen — and to which Deputy Colley is referring — is the fact that on the National Rehabilitation Board's placement lists there are not now the same opportunities for them in open employment. It is not so much a difficulty with regard to training but the fact that they are not being employed.
Is the Minister aware that in a report of the National Association for Mentally Handicapped of Ireland in 1986 the association asked that the Departments of Health and Labour would co-ordinate the services available, would review how they were being implemented and being made available to those in need of them? Has that happened or is there a method by which it might happen? Obviously, if there are scarce and scant resources they should be maximised and not duplicated.
I agree fully with the Deputy's sentiments. I am not sure whether it was in response ot the report to which the Deputy referred, but I should say there was a review carried out last year, in the context of the formation of the estimates for both the National Rehabilitation Board and FÁS for 1988 to ensure there would be no duplication and that any resources to be had within FÁS would be used for the benefit of handicapped people. In the course of that review there was found to be a difficulty in dealing with even mildly handicapped people, or handicapped people, because the conditions and equipment available to FÁS are not necessarily suitable to as many handicapped people as need them. But I know that every effort is made by FÁS to facilitate such people and they are very conscious of their commitment to assisting the handicapped.
And in relation to co-ordination between them?
Yes.
Is the Minister happy with the funding being provided for the National Rehabilitation Board as it has now become widely accepted that the NRB are under-funded while there is Rehab who are doing quite a good job but receiving from State and EC sources a sum of £13 million annually in addition to the funds they receive from the produce they sell at their workshop and from various fund-raising activities. Yet there is the State body, the National Rehabilitation Board, in dire need of funding, which does not have anything like the resources of Rehab.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer for the National Rehabilitation Board. It is the responsibility of the Minister for Health.