Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Sections 26 to 29 apply to all Departments also mentioned in section 31. If what the Minister of State is saying is true, why would he need to name six Departments? He states that it is anticipated in the legislation that they will spend so many millions or euro and that proof of expenditure is needed. That should surely apply to all other Departments as well.

This is not concerned only with access to buildings. The provisions in sections 26 to 29 have a general application. It is not as they have application to all other Departments while section 31 has application to specific ones. As I understand it, sections 26 to 29 applies to everyone, but section 31 applies only to six Departments which have a special onus to have a sectoral plan under the provisions. I do not see the big deal in including all the other Departments. It means that a similar onus will be placed on them.

Senator Kitt pointed out to me that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is not included. Of all Departments it should have been included as this is where the legislation is originating. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law reform covers such a broad area and surely these sections should cover it.

Similarly, I do not understand the logic for not including the Department of Education and Science. The Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003 is of very limited application. It covers primary and secondary education, but it does not cover further education, lifelong learning and so on. Nor does it cover the other things covered by the Department of Education and Science, such as services provided to the public. I cannot understand why that is not included.

The way to go about this is to have every Department draw up some kind of plan. Every cent spent by the Government should be proofed for disability from the outset. It represents good value for money to do it that way. It is like spending money on gender equality. We should not be spending money first and examining it later to see how we are dealing with women, or the elderly or whatever. I urge the Minister to change his mind.