Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

At the outset I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, as the Minister responsible for disability issues, well in her role in the remaining four years of this Government. She has a number of important roles in that brief. I have debated with her on a few occasions and met her in her role as the Minister with responsibility for mental health. The Minister's brief is an important one for many people who depend on the Government to watch out for them and as an advocate at ministerial level to ensure we continue to progress issues.

The issue of disability is particularly important. The figures indicate that approximately 18.5% of people in our population live with a disability of one type or another, with varying degrees of disablement that other people would not encounter in their daily lives.

It is important that a whole Government approach is taken to deal with the issue of disability to ensure those people who have a disablement of one description or another are properly catered for. This is critical because no one Department can deal with that and ensure we address the inadequacies in our wider society in terms of disabled people. That is the reason the publishing of the national disability strategy in 2004, which covered a wide range of Departments, was so important. Much work emanated from that report. It served as a guidance document for the Government of the day, and subsequent Governments, on the way particular issues for disabled people could be addressed.

I am conscious that we are now almost a year into this Government's five year term, if it lasts that long. A year is a short time but I am disappointed that we have not as yet seen a coherent and comprehensive approach taken across the different Departments on the way disability issues can be tackled and progress made. That was highlighted in the most recent budget last December by the Government's approach when it came to funding allocations and addressing the issue of disability benefit payments.

I accept the point Deputy Harris made earlier when he said it is not simply about funding. That is true. It is about wider attitudes among the public and, importantly, attitudes at Government and at organisational level in terms of the way we approach the issue. However, the way the issue of disability benefit payments was handled reflected poorly on the Government in terms of its overall disability strategy. It proposed at the time to cut the disability allowance for those under the age of 18 but for those from 18 to 21 years it was proposed to cut it from €188 to €100 and, for those from 22 to 24, from €188 to €144. The rates for those under the age of 25 cared for by a qualified adult were also facing reductions while the domiciliary care allowance, which was paid to the family of a disabled child under the age of 16, would be extended until their 18th birthday. We are aware of the concern that caused in society for people who are disabled and, subsequently, the Government decided to pause those cuts. As far as I am aware, that remains the position.

I am not saying it was the Minister with responsibility for this area who made the decision to make those cuts. A great deal of consultation was involved in deciding to do that. It was the brief of the Minister for Social Protection and her budget line which was affected but the handling of it and the approach taken was a poor reflection of the Government's grasp in terms of ensuring it is working to a wider plan regarding disability services and protecting the payments and living standards of those who require those payments but also in terms of wider policy development issues.

I note the recent National Survey of Public Attitudes to Disability in Ireland indicated that 20% of respondents believe people with disabilities receive equal opportunities in terms of employment. That is a slightly increased figure but it is still only 20%, which is an indication of where society sees the opportunities available to people who are disabled. Three out of ten respondents believed the State provided adequate or enough benefits for people with a disability. That survey shows that the public is aware there are serious issues and inadequacies remaining in the services in terms of the opportunities we provide to people who are disabled.

Seán Gallagher, in the recent presidential election, highlighted the issue of disability and spoke about his own sight impairment issues as he grew up. A phrase he used and repeated on a few occasions was that when someone has a disability of one type or another the focus must be on what they can do and not on what they are unable to do. Our focus as a Parliament, and that of Government and wider society, is to ensure we provide services and structure society and communities in a way that people with disabilities will be able to carry out all those things that are within their capacity to do. It is often due to a lack of services that a person's disability in one area prevents him or her from carrying out many of the things he or she can do. Addressing that must be our objective in what we set about doing. Our failure in this respect was obvious in some small but simple areas. Examples include the way developments were built, pavements were laid down to the simple matter of traffic light crossings. The way such infrastructure was built and developed and its accessibility were not given the consideration required. It was not a cost issue because in many ways with the proper approach and organisation the cost involved would have been the same. By putting the needs of people with various disabilities and thought for their provision at the centre of development and encompassing that in what is done, we could ensure that for the same cost we would have a society, a community and services which would mean everybody could use them. Much progress has been made on this in recent years. We now have a much more ordered and structured approach to ensuring the needs of those with various disabilities are catered for and considered when we go about our daily business.

More action is needed to further the development of the national disability strategy, to ensure that in the current environment it is put to the forefront again and that there is a coherent approach, strategy and implementation plan across Departments. Following the launch of the disability strategy initially in 2004 several initiatives were taken which progressed disability issues at governmental level, including the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act 2004, the Disability Act 2005 and the Citizens Information Act 2007 and sectoral plans were produced across various Departments, including in the Departments of Health and Children, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, social welfare, transport and environment and communications. It is appropriate that we revisit each of those sectoral plans and that updated plans emanate from the new disability strategy implementation group established by the Minister in November, and that they be at the core of everything the Government, organisations and society does across the country.

I wish the Minister of State well with this important brief over the next number of years.

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