Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 1

Written Answers. - Needs of Mentally Handicapped.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

33 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the discussions, if any, that have taken place with the Department of Health on issues relating to training and employment for persons with a mental handicap as suggested in the Government policy document Needs and Abilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

56 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Labour when he proposes to take a greater role in the training and employment of intellectually disabled persons as proposed in the Government policy document Needs and Abilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

83 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Labour the action he proposes to take to ensure that all pupils who avail of special educational programmes should have access to pre-vocational and vocational training as appropriate as proposed in the Government policy document Needs and Abilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mervyn Taylor

Ceist:

88 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Labour when he proposes to take action to facilitate those with general learning difficulties in pursuing occupational training and employment placement as proposed in the Government policy document Needs and Abilities, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Labour (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 56, 83 and 88 together.

The report of the Review Group on Mental Handicap Service entitledNeeds and Abilities is being considered by my Department on an ongoing basis and initial discussions have taken place with the Department of Health on the recommendations in it.

The report recommends among other things that my Department should in future play a greater role in the training and employment of intellectually disabled persons capable of and suitable for open employment.

FÁS courses are already open to such disabled persons and a number have completed training successfully. In addition the Youthreach programme for early school leavers provided jointly by FÁS and the Department of Education is open to persons with general learning difficulties. FÁS are also piloting a two year course in Galway for mentally handicapped persons with a view to establishing whether more such people can be catered for on their mainline programmes.

In considering any proposals for changes in the delivery of services for the disabled I will have the benefits accruing to the disabled themselves from any such change uppermost in my mind. I should say at this stage, however, that taking account of the present serious unemployment position in the country I am not convinced that a change from the present specialist services provided under the Department of Health to the general services provided through my Department for unemployed persons and first time job seekers would be in the best interests of mentally handicapped or other disabled persons seeking employment.

Finally I would like to mention that the new job training and employment subsidy schemes announced by me last week make specific provision for disabled persons registered with the National Rehabilitation Board.