Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to have the opportunity to summarise the position of the Government on the motion tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath and the Technical Group. I have listened with interest to Members on both sides of the House, as did my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, earlier this morning and last night. Indeed, the commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to this issue has rightly been recognised by Members on both sides of the House.

The position taken by the Government in doing everything in its power to protect those who are most vulnerable is clear, given the very significant financial difficulties the State faces at this time. It is incumbent on us to find better ways to use the moneys we have available to us to extract the best value for those most in need in our society. That is why, with regard to health services for people with disabilities, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, spoke in detail about the significant funding of €1.5 billion which is committed in 2013 to meeting the health and personal social care needs of people with disabilities. The Minister of State outlined the major programme of reform being undertaken to ensure we focus our efforts in the most appropriate way in respect of funding for people with disabilities.

Front-line services are the priority for the Government.

The Health Service Executive is committed to keeping the number of personal assistant hours at a level consistent with that provided in 2012. Additional funding of €4 million has been allocated to help find places for the 700 school leavers with disabilities who will require a service this year. Funding of €1 million has been ring-fenced to meet the housing needs of institutions in 2013, and this will enable housing authorities to provide up to 150 new homes in the community for people with disabilities.

We are finding new and better ways to deliver services which will provide choice and control for people with disabilities. It is the Government's firm belief that this is the best way for people to live full lives in the midst of their local communities. The national implementation framework for the value for money and policy review of disability services will pave the way for migration towards a model of person-centred, individually chosen supports and help to implement a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use. As the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, stated last night, choice and control will shift to where it correctly belongs, namely, with the individual and his or her family.

A number of Deputies referred to a so-called postcode lottery in services for children. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, acknowledged that services have developed independently and were often established to serve one specific group of children only, resulting in a wide variation in the services available. We are working to resolve this issue on the basis of a cross-sectoral approach.

Consistency, standardisation and fairness are the focus of the HSE in its current reconfiguration of existing therapy resources for children. Our aim is to ensure services are as integrated as possible and targeted to the areas of greatest need. We look forward to the Health Information and Quality Authority's standards for residential services for people with disabilities, which will be placed on a statutory footing this year, with the related registration and inspection regime also set to commence.

Many Deputies expressed concern about the needs of those who have been in receipt of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant. I reiterate that the decision to end the schemes was not taken lightly and every effort is being made to devise an appropriate solution or solutions to resolve the issues arising. The project group which has been established on a cross-departmental and agency basis includes relevant individuals representing the disability sector whose role is to communicate and advocate for those in need of supports in addition to helping finding solutions. The group's work is well under way and we must allow it to continue in order that the most appropriate solution or solutions can be ascertained. In the meantime, the payment of mobility allowance will continue for a period of four months for existing recipients. I stress also that the funding of €10.6 million remains in place and is committed to meeting the priority transport needs of people with a disability. I confirm also that there is a contingency fund in my Department. I will convey to the Minister the comments made by Deputies Donnelly and Healy on specific facilities in their constituencies.

The new assisted decision-making (capacity) Bill will align modern legislation with the principles contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The guiding principles of the Bill reflect the principle of the dignity and autonomy of each individual person and the assumption that the person has the capacity to take decisions unless the contrary is shown. It also acknowledges the freedom of a person to make his or her own decisions. The intention of the Bill is to support specifically the right of all persons to equal recognition before the law. The legislation will replace the existing ward of courts system.

On the issue of constructive engagement with groups representing the disabled, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, set out the wide-ranging approaches being taken in the national disability strategy's implementation plan to bring together Departments, agencies and local government with the disability stakeholders group, which represents the many facets of living that confront people with disabilities. The Minister of State also noted the role of the disability forum which reaches out to individuals with their lived experience of disability to ensure the widest possible inclusion takes place. The issue of people with disabilities is extremely important, as is clear in the concern expressed by Members on all sides. I assure the House of the concern of the Government for people with disabilities and thank all Deputies who contributed to the debate. I am also grateful for the opportunity to place this issue to the fore in the proceedings of the House.

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