James Bannon (Fine Gael)

For many this Bill will not be the long-awaited end to their problems and those of their families but at least it is tabled and the process has begun. Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the legislation, returning to the publication of the Estimates and the budget, is that there appears to be a large element of political choice inherent in the funding essential to its implementation. I referred to the shortage of funding for the various health boards, etc. Funding will deliver a proper service but it must be guaranteed. It is talked about as ring-fenced but no guarantees are given by the Government.

People are cautious about accepting guarantees. In another area of the health service, 200,000 extra medical cards were promised but not delivered. Other promises were made in regard to crime but there has been no change of ministerial personnel in the relevant Department to deliver a crime-free State. Some 2,000 extra gardaí were promised but have not been delivered. This has left the public sceptical of anything suggested by the Fianna Fáil-PD Government.

As those with disabilities know only too well, disability is a significant cost. Some 60% of households headed by a person with a disability live below the poverty line, which is acknowledged and needs to be addressed. What do they get from the Government? They are told that the Government cannot afford to provide them with accessible housing. They live in a country where their elderly parents must pray that their disabled children will die before they do because they are concerned for their offspring and cannot trust the Government to look after them. They get promises from the Government that things will get better but it never happens. One need only consider the cuts to the carer's allowance and other cuts to understand the situation.

It is time the Government accepted that the disabled are entitled to the same benefits as others and that it created a situation where they can avail of all this country has to offer its citizens. They can no longer accept second best. The time has come for them to take their rightful place. One of the key elements of this Bill, which is incredibly important, is the right to an individual independent assessment of need. This will grant people the right to have their needs assessed independent of resources. These assessments should identify service gaps, deficiencies and strengths in the existing system. At the very minimum, this Bill should see standards of services improve. People with disabilities should have a right of access to the highest standard of service. They are entitled to the financial means to purchase the services they require and the right of choice. Consultation, to which Senator O'Toole referred earlier, is vital, and the disability sector must play a pivotal role in the completion of all proposals.

We are at a defining moment for people with disabilities in the Ireland of today with an obligation to ensure they get all the rights that are taken for granted by the majority of our citizens. While welcoming the Bill, I sincerely hope the Government will guarantee funding for its implementation. That is vital. People need to be given a guarantee. It is important that figures are ring-fenced in the budget for the implementation of these proposals.