David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will review and revise the national disability strategy in view of the postponing of the implementation of legislative elements of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40363/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State agree that the disability strategy is now in tatters? He has already outlined the key elements of the strategy, including the Disability Act, the EPSEN Act and the Citizen's Information Act. The carers' strategy is also gone and we are still waiting for the mental capacity Bill. Departmental plans have been delayed. Is it not time for the Government to come forward with a realistic strategy and stop the bluffing that is going on and the pretence that something is happening?

Why did it take the Department so long to supply figures to me on the amount of money spent in this area? How much money has been spent since 2006 in the area? I reckon it is only about €490 million out of a promised €900 million. The Department of Health and Children is all over the place and is short by approximately €100 million on its spend. I only got those figures about an hour ago but I asked the questions of the Minister six months ago. There is great disparity in the figures so will the Minister of State explain them?

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think there is great disparity in the funding. If the Deputy had the chance to read the renewed programme for Government, he would see that the Government has again committed to supporting the national disability strategy.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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How much?

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will come to that. It is also important to make the point that not alone is the Government supporting it in words, it has committed to a disability strategy based on the possible effects of the recession. This has been accepted by the disability groups, most of whom I have met.

On the funding, while we could not support fully the EPSEN Act fully last year, some €10 million was put specifically into services for people with disabilities. It was ring-fenced and provided 125 therapists. The figure being spoken about by the Deputy is in excess of €800 million. The requirements under the Disability Act are being met.

With regard to the delay in providing the funding figures to the Deputy, it is a very busy Department that stretches across 633 groups in the disability sector. There is no device to withhold information and there is the matter of pulling that information together from the many sectors involved.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I understand it is difficult. Will the Minister of State consider these figures and come back to me with a comprehensive and easily understood table of figures because I cannot follow the figures provided to me at all? Hundreds of millions of euro are missing. It took six months to get the figures to me, but they are still not right.

Last year, €17 million in current funding that was supposed to be for disability services was handed back to the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. Why was that money not spent? Is the Government taking this matter seriously? In 2006, current spending on disability services was €71 million. The estimated out-turn for this year is €3.6 million, which shows that the budget in this area has been filleted. How will these people survive? I ask the Minister of State to take this issue by the scruff of the neck. He should give this House the information, which I asked for six months ago, in clear and comprehensible tabular form. The people in question are insisting that they are not getting the money or the services. Is it not time for the Minister of State to supply the clear information I asked for six months ago?

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment, I have been meeting at least three or four disability groups every week. I have made it clear to them that I intend to introduce a value for money reform programme to ensure that the moneys saved in the disability sector will remain in that sector. I have also made the groups aware-----

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It is not happening.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am trying to respond to the Deputy in the interests of transparency and openness. I have advised all the groups that I am prepared to meet them individually in a public forum to debate these issues and answer queries like those raised by the Deputy. The disability sector will always recognise the fact that whereas the Department might not be to the fore at all times when it comes to providing money, it is to the fore when it comes to providing information. The bottom line is that I have agreed a date to meet all the groups, to explain the value for money process and, most importantly, to explain the Government's commitment to retaining its belief in the national disability strategy. That meeting will be held sometime in the next two or three weeks.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister of State give the House the figures I asked for six months ago?

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will.