Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment. His personal commitment is clear and exceptional in terms of his membership of the Oireachtas. He has continuously articulated the needs of people with disabilities and I hope that he will give a positive response to this important programme, which works effectively and efficiently in County Louth.

People with disabilities generally have lower skill and qualification levels than the population at large. Any programme, facility or involvement is important and positive in terms of the outcomes for those involved. One such initiative is the Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability providing equal employment routes, WALK PEER, programme. It will continue operating in County Louth until July. More than 119 people covering many types of disability and a broad spectrum of diagnoses were involved, including a number with dual or multiple diagnoses. Some 49% of its participants had an intellectual disability and almost one fifth had a learning disability, for example, struggling with basic literary skills as a result of dyspraxia. Other conditions, including autism, physical or sensory disabilities, accounted for 11%, mental health problems accounted for 6% and 3% of participants had an acquired brain injury.

This programme achieved great success for those with disabilities and enriched the participants greatly. It involved their families, who strongly supported it, employers, the community and schools. The schools that were involved over a two-year period included the Drogheda Institute of Further Education, DIFE, the Dundalk Institute of Technology, the Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education, St. Mary's College, St. Vincent's secondary school and the volunteer centre in County Louth. No programme is perfect but this one was independently assessed. Its participants, their families, schools and employers were communicated with and gave very positive responses.

The WALK PEER initiative's funding stopped in 2015 but the programme continued because of the support of private donors. By any benchmark, it is successful and is what the people what. The community is behind it but there is a problem in that bureaucracy is not continuing its funding. Initially, this was one of 14 programmes in the region. Last year, I attended meetings in Castlebellingham that were packed in support of it. We continue to receive representations from WALK PEER's participants, their families and everyone else.

Will the Minister of State meet the programme urgently? Those involved are deeply committed and are concerned about its future. There is an integrity in their approach and support. I will be happy to respond following the Minister of State's answer.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Brevity.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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-----few words.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his best wishes on my new portfolio.

The PEER project was one of 14 disability activation projects, DACTs, in the Border, midlands and west region that were jointly funded by the European Social Fund, ESF, and the Department of Social Protection from the end of 2012 to April 2015. The project was delivered by WALK. The objective of the DACT programme was to explore a variety of routes towards ensuring that people with disabilities were enabled to avail of progression, education and development opportunities within the world of work.

The WALK PEER project provided an early intervention customised employment support service for its participants to access employment and economic activity. The target group was young people with disabilities aged 16 to 24 years, including those with a physical disability, sensory impairment, a mental health problem, challenging behaviours, a medical condition and-or autism.

I understand that the WALK PEER project supported a total of 119 participants over the period that it was funded by the Department and the ESF. The total number of participants on the DACT programme across the 14 projects was 2,079. In terms of progression outcomes, 49 WALK PEER participants progressed to further education and 21 took up employment. Of these, 12 individuals remained in economic activity - education or employment - after 12 months.

A key criterion applied when selecting projects was that the learning from this activity should be capable, where appropriate, of being mainstreamed in the future. Therefore, it is important to note that the projects were never intended to become ongoing service delivery organisations in their own right no matter how successful the projects might have been. It was on this basis that each of the DACT projects was awarded funding with a specified end date of 30 April 2015. In the closure phase of the programme, however, it was recognised by the Department that there would be a number of people still actively participating on some of the DACT projects, so a decision was made to provide funding to seven of the projects, including WALK PEER, for a short period to the end of July 2015. This funding was provided so as to allow projects to ensure that their participants finished their involvement in a framed manner. I understand that the WALK PEER project was subsequently successful in obtaining additional funding from a private sector organisation and that this source of support will terminate in July 2016.

Given the origin and history of the project as set out, there is no provision in the Department of Social Protection's Estimates to provide further funding to this project. The Department's mainstream work supports for people with disabilities focus on supporting people in the context of jobs in an open labour market. This is the official departmental response but I will respond in more detail to the concerns raised by Deputy O'Dowd.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It certainly is the official departmental response. As far as I am concerned, it is bureaucracy and does not make sense at all. This programme clearly works. It shines a light into to the lives of the participants, their families and their community. It has the full support of the schools, employers and everybody concerned. Why is it that something that is successful and that is wanted by everyone involved is hammered by the bureaucracy?

I want the Minister of State to meet the group. It is crucial that he do so. It is crucial that we uphold success and support the people succeeding in this area. According to the very words of the Minister of State, the programme is a success. When the Government funding stopped, funding was obtained from a private sector source to keep the programme going. It is a success and we should be replicating and supporting programmes that actually work.

I understand the actual cost per participant to the wonderful Department is approximately €5,000. There is another Minister present, Deputy Francis Fitzgerald, who spends - properly so - approximately €250,000 per individual on children who are in trouble with the law and in care. They need it. In the case of the programme I am raising, a paltry sum of €5,000 per individual is not being spent. Why is it that when a programme works, we say "No"? Why is the bureaucracy getting away with it? Why did the Department give the Minister of State that gobbledygook of an answer to give today? It is insulting to the participants and their families. I have never met a group more committed, dedicated and articulate and with more support on an issue. I ask the Minister of State to respond to and meet that group and sit down with officials from the Department. He is the person in charge; he is the Minister of State. The bureaucracy must do what it is told but it must always replicate and support success. That is absolutely critical in this day and age as part of our comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities. Either it means nothing or it means something. The Minister of State is the man to make the difference and I hope his reply will.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by Deputy O’Dowd. My view on this is that the amount of money being spent, namely, €5,000 per person per year, contrasts with the huge sums of being spent in other areas. The answer to the Deputy’s question is that I will strongly take on board the views he has raised today. Other colleagues, such as Deputy Gerry Adams, raised this matter recently also.

On the broader issue of disabilities, I strongly agree that we need to invest in the services. Disability services were severely slashed over the past six or seven years. I am trying to address that at present. Last week, I announced in the region of €31 million for school leavers and various worthwhile projects.

We have to be seen to be supporting people with disabilities and acting in regard to supported employment. Supported employment is completely different from the circumstances of somebody with an illness who can re-enter the workforce on recovery. The reality is that within the intellectual disability sector, we need supported employment. Therefore, I agree with Deputy O’Dowd on the issue of bureaucracy.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have raised this matter with my Cabinet colleagues and I told them we need to react. It is not just a matter for the Minister of State responsible for disabilities to talk about the rights of people with disability. It is a matter for every single Minister.

On the question as to whether I will meet the families, I absolutely will do so. I will be honoured to meet them. I had a few rows behind the scenes with my officials.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Good. Have more.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I do not accept their answer. I will be fighting for those concerned and I commit to doing my best. We need to ensure the Department of Social Protection faces the reality. It cannot just run away from a particular project if it is very successful. I will be fighting and arguing with my Cabinet colleagues on this project.

Last Saturday, I was at an Inclusion Ireland conference in the Gibson Hotel. I met some of those involved in the WALK PEER programme and they convinced me. I also met other people outside the project and asked them directly whether it was credible. Every one of them said “Yes”. My answer is that I will commit to doing my best on this.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Well done.