The interdepartmental group to which the Deputy refers is chaired by an official from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand from my colleague, Deputy O'Donoghue, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who answered a parliamentary question on Thursday, 6 May 1999 on this matter, that the interdepartmenal group hopes to furnish its report to me for consideration prior to the summer recess.
As I have said on a number of occasions, the current scheme is costly and opening it up to wider ranges of disabilities would significantly add to this cost. I must caution, therefore, against an expectation that every person who suffer from some form of disability or disablement will be admitted to this scheme as a result of this review.