Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Just let me say, a wide group of interested organisations were represented, including the Carers Association, Down Syndrome Ireland, Irish Autism Action, Special Needs Parents Association, Inclusion Ireland, the Midlands Regional Forum of People with Disabilities, and parent representatives of the DCA Warriors group. They have all been consulted extensively and involved in the report.

Additional Information not given on the floor of the House

The DCA review group included representatives from a number of Departments, the National Disability Authority, representatives from the NGO umbrella group representing the Carers Association, Downs Syndrome Ireland, Irish Autism Action, Special Needs Parents Association, Inclusion Ireland, the Midlands Regional Forum of People with Disabilities, and parent representatives in the DCA Warriors group. The administrative recommendations made in the review report will result in an improvement in the level of service provided to our customers and will assist in ensuring that those people who meet the qualifying conditions for the payment receive it in a timely manner. It is my intention that the administrative improvements will be implemented quickly.

Since the report has been published, work is already under way to put the implementation group in place. Forms and communications are being reviewed and in addition, the technical changes necessary to support the new administrative processes have been defined and are included in a tender to go to the marked within the next few weeks.

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