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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Priority Questions. - Disabilities Task Force.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

3 Miss Keogh asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he has a precise date as to when the interdepartmental task force, which is drawing up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities based on the report by Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, will arrive at its conclusions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12421/97]

The interdepartmental task force, established to draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities, is expected to have its work completed by the middle of the year. While it is not possible to give the Deputy a precise date for the completion of the plan, I expect it to be finalised by the end of June. The task force has held three meetings to date and is due to meet again next Tuesday. I understand it is progressing well with its work.

While I thank the Minister for informing us of the proposed date for publication of the task force's conclusions, I am disappointed we are moving slowly in this area. Will the Minister comment on the recommendations made in the report by Mr. Justice Fergus Flood? While the Minister alluded to two of the six areas referred to, some of the recommendations need urgent attention. Notwithstanding the good work of the task force, will the Minister ensure the other recommendations are implemented before June? Can the Minister make a decision in that regard or is he leaving it to the task force?

Work in connection with services to people with disabilities is proceeding on an ongoing basis in various Departments. Prioritisation of the report's recommendations is being specifically addressed by the interdepartmental task force which will draw up a prioritised list on particular items. However, work in connection with people with disabilities has not come to a standstill in other Departments. Extensive work is being carried out on an ongoing basis, particularly in the Departments of Health, Education and Enterprise and Employment. The Government's decisions following the publication of the task force's report will place particular emphasis on specific recommendations in the commission's report. I have also set up a monitoring committee on which there is a broad range of representation, including people with disabilities. It will have an active, permanent and ongoing role in monitoring progress on the implementation of the report's recommendations. The Council for the Status of People with Disabilities, which is up and running and properly funded, is an important additional factor in the equation. It will also be a major voice in advocating the rights of people with disabilities. It will be the watchdog from outside and the monitoring committee will be the watchdog from inside. Through those committees I have built a firm platform from which the rights of people with disabilities can be progressed in the future.

I am sure all Members would agree that one Department should have overall responsibility for ensuring the rights of people with disabilities are vindicated. Has the Minister made any progress on publishing a separate Bill dealing with disabilities? I presume that would be the responsibility of his Department.

As I stated in a reply to an earlier question from Deputy McDaid, the commission advocated that there should be one Department dealing with disabilities and it should be the Department of Equality and Law Reform. I have outlined the Labour Party position in that regard and I am anxious to hear the views of the Progressive Democrats. A disabilities Act is one of the recommendations of the commission's report. I look forward to considering the task force's comments on it and the parameters I might suggest to it. I am considering that question. Until now we have been preoccupied in this area with important anti-discrimination Bills, the Employment Equality Bill and the Equal Status Bill which are currently before the Supreme Court. The need for a disabilities Act will have ongoing consideration.

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