John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The key elements of the national disability strategy are the Disability Act 2005, the Citizen's Information Act 2007, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, sectoral plans and a multi-annual investment programme targeted at high-priority disability support services to run until 2009. The strategy is, in large measure, being implemented. Implementation continues to be monitored by the national disability strategy stakeholders monitoring group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Deputy will appreciate that whereas the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for the co-ordination of the strategy, other Departments are designated with responsibility for particular legislative provisions. However, I can state in general the following.

All sections of the Disability Act 2005 have been commenced. Part 2 of the Act, which provides for all children with disabilities an entitlement to an independent assessment of health and education needs, was commenced on 1 June 2007 for children under five years of age. It had been intended to have the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 fully implemented during 2010 in respect of children between five and 18 years of age. This would have required significant additional investment in 2009 and 2010 to prepare the education and health sectors for the operation of the legislation and to support the statutory processes that would be required. In the light of the current financial circumstances, it has become necessary to defer further implementation of the two Acts. The Government will keep this matter under review and is committed to the full implementation of both Acts at the earliest possible date.

The statutory basis for the introduction of a personal advocacy service under the Citizen's Information Board was provided for in the Citizen's Information Act 2007 but it was not possible, due to budgetary circumstances, to proceed with the service in 2008 as planned and this remains the case. The provision of an advocacy service remains a priority for the Government, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Citizen's Information Board. The board has developed a community and voluntary sector advocacy programme for people with disabilities and has funded 46 separate advocacy projects. Up to the end of October 2009, 5,550 members of the public had availed of the services provided by the projects.

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