Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 1

Written Answers. - Facilities for Disabled.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

8 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the issues of inequality for people with a disability to which his attention has been drawn; his understanding of equality of rights for people with a mental handicap who are being denied an appropriate service; the role of his Department in such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12315/97]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

The Report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities deals extensively with the inequality experienced on a daily basis by people with disabilities and their families and carers. It presents a picture of a society which excludes people with disabilities from almost every aspect of economic, social, political and cultural life. The Commission made 402 recommendations, including addressing the need to improve services for people with a mental handicap.

I have established an interdepartmental task force to draw up a plan of action on the rights of people with disabilities, based on the report. The task force is chaired by my Department and is scheduled to submit its plan of action to Government around mid-year. On 18 April 1997, I formally established a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the Commissions's recommendations. The monitoring committee is representative of people with disabilities, their families and carers and service providers, as well as the social partners and Government Departments. I eagerly await the results of their deliberations and in particular with regard to those people with disabilities who are considered to be particularly vulnerable. In this regard, I refer the Deputy to Chapter 23 of the report.

One of the key recommendations of the Commission was a proposal to establish a permanent council to represent people with disabilities. On 11 March, the Interim Council, now known as the Irish Council of People with Disabilities, was launched, I was anxious that the council should be established on the firmest footing. On this basis, in addition to the £100,000 provided for it in the Estimates for my Department for 1997, I was able to secure an additional £200,000 in this year's budget, giving the council a total allocation of £300,000 in respect of this year.

Another initiative I have taken which promotes equal opportunities for people with disabilities is the establishment of pilot community development projects. In the course of the "Listening Meetings" held by the Commission, people expressed a great deal of frustration with the unavailability of information. In the light of these difficulties, I have provided funding for setting up three pilot community development projects for people with disabilities in Cork, Clare and Tallaght-Clondalkin. The main aims of these projects are to facilitate access at a local level by people with disabilities, including those living in residential settings, to all information, to include details of the range of services available, in appropriate formats, on the issues affecting their lives; and to facilitate participation by people with disabilities in local area partnerships or other community fora and thus empower them to influence the decision-making process and play an active part in the life of their community.

The Employment Equality Bill, which I introduced and is currently before the Supreme Court, seeks to provide protection from discrimination in the workplace for a number of groups, including people with disabilities. The Equal Status Bill, which I also introduced, passed all Stages in the Oireachtas on 29 April and has also been referred by the President to the Supreme Court for a decision as to whether it is repugnant to the Constitution. This draft legislation seeks to provide, for the first time, protection against discrimination outside the field of employment.