Vol. 437 No. 4
21 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of visually impaired people, and to the necessity of providing new technology to enable some visually impaired people to read; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the concerns of visually impaired people regarding the availability of technical aids and realise that there is room for general improvement in technical aids assessment and provision in Ireland. This is an area of particular concern to me as it forms a vital link in the practical application and promotion of the concept of "independent living" for people with a disability.
The question of providing appropriate technical aids is being addressed by the Review Group on Services for People with a Physical or Sensory Disability which I set up last year. It will report to me next year and I will give due consideration to its recommendations.
The report of the Special Education Review Committee recently launched by the Minister for Education examined the provision of specialised equipment and materials to schoolchildren. My Department will be giving careful consideration to its recommendations and will liaise with the Department of Education in this regard.
Finally, may I say that, while modern technology has ensured that there is an ever-increasing range of equipment available to assist disabled people, the Deputy will appreciate that, in the light of competing demands for development of other services for the physically and sensory disabled, wider provision of what is often very costly equipment can only come about on a phased basis.
