Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It is intended that the administrative measures will be put in place to enable liaison officers to work closely with health service management when preparing service statements and implementing their contents. The liaison officer would obviously be working with the professional health care team in the HSE in the preparation and delivery of a service statement. The officer would clearly have to have qualifications and training, but all that will need to be outlined in the standards and regulations to be drawn up.

While it is important that there would be independence in the context of the assessment officer, the thrust of the Disability Bill, when it comes to its implementation, is that it is person-centred legislation. A person with a disability should be able to have an assessment carried out quickly, efficiently and with the proper professional backup. That should then lead to the preparation and provision of the service statement, followed by the provision of the services as outlined in that statement. A significant effort is being made by the HSE to have a transparent, seamless, linked system in place, with people consulted on an ongoing basis. People will thus participate in their own assessment and in the preparation of their service statements, which will reduce the need for complaints and recourse to the appeals officer.