Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Section 31 outlines the six Ministers required under the Bill to prepare sectoral plans. These include the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Departments concerned are those whose policies make the greatest impact on the lives of people with disabilities. I would like to remind Senators that all public service providers, including all Departments and agencies, must make their services accessible in line with sections 25 to 29, inclusive, of the Bill. This must be done before the end of 2005. The sections impose significant obligations on such bodies and require them, among other things, to make all their services accessible to people with disabilities.

The six Departments to which I have referred are the six large Departments which, because of the significant work which will take time, have been required to put that work into a plan. It is for that reason we have required six sectoral plans. The other Departments which, by and large, will be required to put their plans into practice almost immediately do not need a sectoral plan. This is why there are not sectoral plans for every Department. For this reason, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 43.

The proposed Government amendments Nos. 44 and 45 will require the six sectoral plan Departments to produce reports setting out information on the progress they have made in implementing the measures set out in their plan. The Ministers will be required to produce reports at least every three years and lay them before the Oireachtas. At least every three years means it may be necessary for people to prepare reports on a more regular basis if it is clear that adequate progress is not being made. This is partly in response to the case made by the DLCG, particularly by the DFI. I welcome Mr. John Dolan to the Visitors Gallery. I noted the contents of an article he wrote in this morning's edition of The Irish Times.