Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 October 2004
301 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are new proposals in his Department to assist families of persons with disabilities; and if the Disability Bill 2004 will lead to improved services for all persons with disabilities. [23469/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of schemes which provide income support to persons who are unfit to work because of illness or who are substantially handicapped from doing work which would otherwise be suitable for a person of that age, experience and qualifications. These schemes include disability allowance, invalidity pension, disability benefit, blind persons pension and the cost of free schemes provided to persons on illness or disability schemes. My Department also provides supports to carers of persons with disabilities through the carers allowance and benefit schemes as well as through the award of respite care grants.
In line with normal practice, improvements to these schemes will be considered in the context of the annual budget, taking into account Government commitments and the availability of resources. On 21 September, the Government launched a national disability strategy to underpin the participation of people with disabilities in society with a particular emphasis on the provision of public services. The strategy has a number of implications for my Department. These are the assignment of new responsibilities arising from the Disability Bill 2004, the publication of the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 and the publication of a sectoral plan with details of services for persons with disabilities.
The Disability Bill is designed to support the provision of disability specific services to people with disabilities and to improve access to mainstream public services for people with disabilities, in addition to the requirement to publish a sectoral plan. At the same time of the publication of the strategy, my Department published, in outline form, a sectoral plan which provides information in relation to income and employment support schemes, details in relation to claim processing times, complaints procedures and arrangements for consultation with people with disabilities. The Disability Bill also provides a statutory basis for accessible public buildings and services and positive action for the employment in the public service which will have implications for my Department.
The Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 will allow for the introduction of personal advocacy services specifically for people with disabilities. The new service will be administered by Comhairle, which is an agency under the body of my Department, and envisages the provision of a personal advocate to persons with a disability who have difficulty in obtaining, without assistance or support, a social service.
