Minister Tim O'Malley's Response

“The Department of Health and Children has responsibility for the provision of health and social services for people with disabilities in line with the Government policy on mainstreaming Department has enabled them to be planned and delivered in a more inclusive manner. Accordingly, the disability rights issue mentioned in your correspondence are a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Our colleague Mr. Willie O’Dea, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for disability, equality policy and legislation development. In that context, I have been advised that this Department has in the last number of years, in co-operation with the European Commission, organised the Irish National Day on Disability. Each year, a particular theme is chosen for the day. Themes to date have included:

“Progress Through Partnership” (24 November, 1997)
“Progress Through Employment” (30 November, 1998)
“Building a Future Together” (29November, 1999) and “Information Technology – Access fro All” (27 November, 2000). This took place simultaneously in 3 locations – Dublin, Sligo and Ennis.
“Design for All” – (22 October, 2001)
“Do they take sugar?” – a television programme (aired on Network 2 on 3 December, 2002 at 9.00pm)

This year that Department chose to focus the National Information Day on the public sector. Over 200,000 brochures were distributed to public sector employees to inform and raise awareness of disability issues.

As 2003 was designated European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD), Ireland and our EU partners are working together to create awareness about disability issues among the population at large and, more importantly, to promote awareness of the right of people with disabilities to equal opportunities and protection against discrimination. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform designated the National Disability Authority (NDA) as the national co-ordinating body fro EYPD. The NDA chaired the national coordinating body for EYPD. The NDA chaired the national coordinating committee which coordinated events for the year in Ireland. The members of the committee represent disability organisations, the Social Partners, Government Departments and the media. Minister O’Dea’s Department was represented on the committee that is focused on four particular themes for the year:

Awareness Raising;
Youth and Disability;
Rights, Partnership and Responsibilities; and
Employment.

The Department funded other initiatives and events to publicise the Year including the “Youth – Beyond Disability” seminars, organised by people with disabilities in Ireland; a calendar ( in conjunction with PWDI ); and the “Design for All” exhibition in partnership with the Office of Public Works.

While the department has been active in promoting disability awareness, it should be noted that there are other state organisations, which are also actively involved in ensuring that this issue is active in the public consciousness. The Equality Authority, Comhairle and other Government Departments are involved in promoting this issue.

The Government remains committed to bringing forward a Disability Bill, which will underpin the principle of mainstreaming and provide for positive action measures to remove barriers to equal participation for people with disabilities.

Given the complex and crosscutting issues involved, the process of overseeing the preparation of the Disability Bill has been referred to a Cabinet Committee. The Cabinet Committee is taking a key role in facilitating cross-Departmental co-operation. As stated in the Agreed Programme for Government the Bill will includes provisions for rights of assessment, appeals, provision and enforcement. The Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation and it is aimed to publish it in the coming weeks.

Furthermore, in my own Department, a Working Group established by the Minister fro Health and Children is currently examining the provision of home support and Personal Assistants fro people with disabilities. The working Group is comprised of representative of my Department, service providers and service users.

Also, 3 million euro is being made available in the 2004 budget for services fro people with physical or sensory disabilities to meet priority service pressures as identified by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in consultation with other relevant agencies. These service pressures include respite, home supports and personal assistants; support services for children with disabilities, and the provision of aids and appliances.

My Department has been and continues to work with the health boards, people with disabilities and their families in relation to the development of a range of support services, the aim of which is to enable the individual with a disability to live as independently as possible within their communities for as long as possible. In cases where residential services are required, the aim is to provide them in a manner which maintains the independence of the individual to the greatest extent possible.”

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Minister Tim O'Malley's Response

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