Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the importance of this subject and wish to put on record my appreciation for the work done by the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in this area. We are lucky to have somebody who is as dedicated as she is. It is an area where we all need to be on our toes all the time because no matter how much money we spend or what commitment we give there are always ways in which improvements can be made in the area of disability.

It is important to put on record that a huge amount of Government money is put towards disability services, and this is outlined in the Government amendment with regard to the €5 billion spent annually on disability services and the €1 billion on income supports for illness and invalidity. Many resources are put towards this and rightly so; it should always be the case. We should always be looking at ways to improve the situation for people with a disability, particularly with the focus on their needs and giving them the greatest degree of independence possible, which varies greatly. Disability varies, from the degree of disability I have to severe disability which makes life extremely difficult and independent living not possible for quite a few people unfortunately.

I have experience of working in a school for children with a disability. It is most important that those dealing with people with a disability, particularly children, entice and encourage them to live their lives to the full, to whatever degree that is. It would be foolish to say it is to the same degree for each individual because disability very much relates to the person and the extent of the disability varies. I remember two boys whose parents had different attitudes, which had a huge outcome on their educational progress. The view of one mother was that her son should participate as fully as possible in everything and he was able to switch to mainstream school. The other mother was totally focused on the disability and how unfair it was on her child, and this stunted his possibilities, which was very sad, despite many attempts to get around it. I am making a general point with regard to dealing with children with a disability, although I am sure it applies to a lesser degree to adults with a disability. People should be made aware to the greatest extent possible that they should be able to live independently to the greatest degree possible.

The value for money and policy review of disability services published in July 2012 was very important.

The focus of the recommendations is very important, namely to migrate from an approach that is predominantly organised around group-based services towards a model of person-centred individual chosen supports. That is so important because each person's disability is in a sense unique to that person. Their needs are unique to them even though there will be people with similar needs and so on. The implementation of a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use needs to be a continual focus for everyone involved in providing services for people with disabilities.

In that regard could I say-----

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