Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The report goes on to say that there has been significant growth in the level of provision of services to people with an intellectual disability, which reflects the investment programme.

The additional investment in the health services in recent years has resulted in an increase in the number of physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, by 1,988 since 1997, which is an increase of 171%. The number of psychologists working in the health service has increased by 392, which represents an increase of 131% in numbers employed.

Recognition by the Government of the importance of implementing the national disability strategy is highlighted by the commitments outlined in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 and in the programme for Government. Despite the substantial increase in services for people with a disability, including residential and day places and multidisciplinary support services, the Government acknowledges the significant demand for new services and a growing requirement to enhance existing services. We are committed to continuing the significant financial investment in supports for people with disabilities.

The health sectoral plan outlines proposals for the implementation of the Disability Act. A review of that plan has just been completed in my Department. In particular, it provides for the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act and the cross-departmental and cross-sectoral issues concerning people with disabilities and mental health, such as housing, income support and vocational training and employment are also addressed. Part 2 of the Disability Act provides people with a disability with an entitlement to an independent assessment of needs; a statement of the services which it is proposed to provide; to pursue a complaint and, if necessary; to make an appeal to the independent disability appeals officer.

In particular, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced for children under five years on 1 June 2007. I understand that, to date, over 1,200 applications for assessment have been received by the Health Service Executive and approximately 100 assessments have been successfully completed.

Children in the age category of five to 18 years will be catered for with the implementation of EPSEN in tandem with the Disability Act by no later that 2011. A critical element of the co-ordination structure has been the establishment of a cross-sectoral team which helped to ensure that arrangements for the implementation of Part 2 of the Act were progressed. I am pleased to inform the House that I attended a meeting of this team and I assure Members of the commitment of all involved. This team which consists of officials from the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science, the Health Service Executive and the National Council for Special Education has responsibility for the co-ordinated implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the relevant sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, when it commences.

I assure the House that we are committed to the full implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and I am determined to ensure that the necessary resources to allow this happen are provided.

I will refer briefly to the Office for Disability and Mental Health. The fundamental idea of this new office is to get all Departments working together in a structured approach to the delivery of services. My key goal is to work hard to improve the life of anyone in Ireland with a disability. I can do this by actively driving measures to ensure effective co-operation across the relevant Departments and agencies.

This office will be built around the existing units dealing with disability. The administrative head of the new office is a senior manager in the Department of Health and Children. She will attend senior management meetings in other Departments, including the Department of Education and Science, where issues relating to disability are on the agenda.

In addition, I will hold quarterly meetings with the four Secretaries General of the Departments to which I have been appointed and the director of the new office. Formal arrangements will be developed to improve linkages between the new office and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The office for disability will also focus on supporting the implementation of the health sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. It will, in particular, facilitate the delivery of integrated health and education support services for children with special needs.

The existing co-ordination arrangements between the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science on interaction between Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004 will continue to operate to the benefit of people with disabilities, including those with autism. Through these formal interdepartmental links, the office for disability will ensure and oversee an integrated whole-of-government approach and implementation of joined-up policy. The establishment of the office is another step in this process. The ultimate aim is to provide people with a disability with an opportunity to live a full life and to participate full in society. I support the amendment.

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