Vol. 547 No. 1
928 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures he has taken since 1997 to improve the position of the physically handicapped; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1345/02]
Whereas my Department provides a focal point for disability equality pol icy and legislative development generally it does not have responsibility for the delivery or funding of services directly to people with physical disabilities.
Over the past four and a half years this Government has continued to advance its equality agenda to improve the position of people with disabilities across a range of policy areas. My Department has been responsible for ensuring that the necessary legislative and infrastructural framework is in place to support this agenda.
Achievements by my Department to date include the following: establishment of a disability equality section in my Department to provide a central focus for disability equality policy and legislation development; enactment of the Employment Equality Act 1998, which prohibits discrimination in employment on nine specified grounds, including disability and provided for the establishment of equality infrastructure; establishment of the Equality Authority which has statutory responsibility to work towards elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities; establishment of the Office of the Director of Investigations which provides the main locus of redress of first instance for equality cases; enactment of the National Disability Authority Act 1999; establishment of the National Disability Authority, NDA, in June, 2000 to develop and monitor standards in services for people with disabilities and to advise on disability policy and practice; publication of the progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in December, 1999; enactment of the Equal Status Act, 2000, which prohibits discrimination on nine specified grounds, including disability in relation to the provision of goods, services and facilities; introduction of mainstreaming of disability policy, which was launched by an Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, on 12 June 2000 – mainstreaming means the delivery of services for people with disabilities by the public bodies that provide the service for everybody else; establishment of and overseeing the work of a monitoring committee in relation to the 3% target level for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service – outside the Civil Service; and a programme of initiatives, since 1997, to create awareness of disability issues including annual National Disability Information Days which are co-sponsored by the EU. My Department also hosted disability awareness weeks in December 1997 and May 1999 which involved travel to various venues on a nationwide tour to heighten awareness around disability issues.
