Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies for their contributions and positive suggestions, which have been taken on board. When the subject was discussed last week, I agreed to formulate a composite reply to address more comprehensively all the issues raised, which are the responsibility of various Ministers to whom the different sectoral plans relate. That is currently being done. I anticipate an overall reply will issue in the near future.

Deputy Stanton mentioned the monitoring arrangements to review progress under the strategy as agreed under Towards 2016. We will continue the practice of putting the stakeholders at the centre of this process. As I mentioned at committee new arrangements are being put in place involving stakeholders, representatives and senior Government officials and these arrangements will be in place before the end of the year. Consultation is ongoing on that.

Deputy Stanton raised the question of resources. More than 1,000 frontline posts are associated with the 2005 developments and in excess of that number are associated with the 2006 developments. This matter was also raised by Deputy Catherine Murphy and Deputy Lynch. During the past two years posts funded under the national disability strategy were additional to previously approved staffing levels, which led to a consequent adjustment to the approval of the employment ceiling for the health services. This has not happened in too many places.

The question of assessment was raised by several Deputies. The Act provides for the right to an independent assessment of need. A child may be assessed under the Disability Act or under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act. The HSE will appoint assessment officers and liaison officers throughout the country based on the assessment need as indicated by population profiles over the next 12 months. As a Deputy pointed out, that Act is central to our disability policy. As I said in committee, pending the establishment of HIQA the Department of Health and Children will initiate work on the development of standards in conjunction with the interim HIQA and in consultation with the National Disability Authority and the other relevant stakeholders.

Deputy Lynch mentioned disabled drivers and the disabled passengers' tax concessions scheme. There are strict medical criteria laid down for the implementation of this scheme. While I accept the point made by the Deputy, which was also made in committee, there were more than 9,500 claimants under this scheme in 2005 in respect of whom the total payment was €56 million. Therefore, it is a significant scheme. It was examined by the interdepartmental group, which made a number of recommendations, both immediate and long term. It raised many fundamental questions about the intended scope and purpose of the scheme into the future. Given the scope of the scheme, further changes can only be made after careful consideration.

On the question of housing raised by Deputy Lynch there will be a significant new national housing strategy for people with disabilities. The Towards 2016 draft agreement includes specific provisions for tailored housing and housing supports for people with disabilities including, in particular, adults with significant disabilities and people who experience mental illness. In fact, a significant housing strategy was agreed under Towards 2016.

The effective co-ordination of policies, the operation of the plans by various Departments and the delivery of services were mentioned by Deputy Lynch. The implementation of this strategy will be led by the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion, chaired by the Taoiseach. It will be supported by a senior officials' group, which will have regular strategy meetings. That group's sole policy focus is on delivering the disability strategy as outlined in the Act and the various sectoral plans I have described today.

Negotiations and discussions with the stakeholders will be ongoing. Their views, as has been the case from the beginning, are being taken into account in a most careful manner.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned employment and I agree there is a need for disability awareness training and a more general awareness among employers of the need to be proactive in employing people with disabilities. Deputy Cuffe mentioned transport and specifically the need for direct transport to and from home for disabled people. While I agree with his basic point, in reality, significant transport arrangements are already in place. Disability organisations have pointed out situations to me where three or four minibuses are picking up individuals in one small area of Dublin and taking them all in the same direction. In that context, there is a need for rationalisation and much greater co-ordination. Undoubtedly money could be spent more efficiently in this sector. It is not just a question of providing more money, as a significant amount of money is already being invested. Reform of structures and rationalisation of organisations and service providers is also required. That will come about through the HSE adopting a much more co-ordinated and synchronised approach than has been the case to date.

This is the most comprehensive strategy that has ever been put in place under any legislation enacted here. It involves the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and all Ministers, in particular the six so-called line Ministers. I, along with my officials in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, am charged with co-ordinating the efforts being made. I am quite satisfied, given the strategy and the level of resources being invested, that we will see improvements. However, they cannot happen overnight and will take time. We are now on the right road and I am satisfied the disability legislation and strategy will enhance the lifestyle of people with disabilities.

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