Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Disability Authority.

John Perry

Ceist:

584 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has in place regarding the inclusion of the Department of Education and Science on the national disability authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21604/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

On 29 July 1998 I appointed 20 members to the board of the new National Disability Authority (NDA). In appointing persons to be members of the authority, I gave due regard to the desirability that a majority of the authority would be persons with disabilities, their representatives, families or carers and that each member of the authority would have knowledge or experience of matters pertaining to disability or any other subject which would be of assistance to the authority in the performance of its functions. As a result, 13 of the 20 appointed members, or 65 per cent, have been drawn from people with disabilities or their families, a further three persons, or 15 per cent are representative of service providers and four members are representative of employers, unions and Government Departments.

I am aware of the important role which the Department of Education and Science has in regard to the provision of services to people with disabilities. It is not unique in this regard. I would also see a number of other Government Departments as having major roles to play in the development and improvement of these services. These would include the Departments of Health and Children, Social Community and Family Affairs, Enterprise Trade and Employment, Public Enterprise and Environment and Local Government. I am confident that the authority appointed will carry out its functions effectively and that it is neither necessary nor appropriate for there to be direct representation of the relevant Departments for this to be achieved. I do not consider that it would be helpful to have increased representation of Government Departments on the authority as this would have to be at the expense of representation of people with disabilities, their families and carers.