John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House and thank him for his speech. The progress that has been made to date is most welcome. The Seanad can play a very important non-partisan role in the debate on the framework for social partnership agreement, specifically dealing with disability. I look forward to seeing each sectoral plan being integrated into the business plans and statements of strategy of all the Departments. I would like to see also an annual report to a committee that would measure and quantify progress, and the Seanad and the committee system working together on identifying the progress of the social partnership agreement.

The Government and the social partners agree on the special place that the sectoral plans enjoy. It is worthwhile to reiterate what the programme, Towards 2016: Ten-Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006-2015, states:

The parties to this agreement share a vision of an Ireland where people with disabilities have, to the greatest extent possible, the opportunity to live a full life with their families and as part of their local community, free from discrimination.

To achieve this vision, the Government and the social partners will work together over the next ten years towards the following long-term goals with a view to continued improvements in the quality of life of people with disabilities:

Every person with a disability would have access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living;

Every person with a disability would, in conformity with their needs and abilities, have access to appropriate care, health, education, employment and training and social services;

Every person with a disability would have access to public spaces, buildings, transport, information, advocacy and other public services and appropriate housing;

Every person with a disability would be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead full and independent lives, to participate in work and in society and to maximise their potential, and;

Carers would be acknowledged and supported in their caring role.

The Government and the social partners agree that the National Disability Strategy represents a comprehensive Strategy for this aspect of the life cycle framework and that implementation of the Strategy should be the focus of policy over the lifetime of the agreement.

The Government [in implementing] the National Disability Strategy, will also take account of linkages with other relevant national strategies and policies.

The Strategy includes the Disability Act 2005, six Sectoral Plans, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 and a Multi-Annual Investment Programme of close to €900m over the years 2006 to 2009.

It provides the framework for delivery of the long-term outcomes outlined ... A series of Sectoral Plans are currently being developed by the following Departments:

Health and Children;

Social and Family Affairs;

Environment, Heritage and Local Government;

Transport;

Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and;

Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Each plan will set out, for each of the Departments and the public bodies under their aegis, the programme of measures to be taken in relation to the provision of services for people with specified disabilities. The plans are to be laid before [the Houses] of the Oireachtas[.]

The Plans include specific targets, where practicable, and timescales against which progress will be measured. They will also address cross-departmental issues in a coherent manner.

The parties agree that future policy in relation to people with disabilities will be progressed through the National Disability Strategy with particular expression being provided through sectoral plans being developed and other relevant mechanisms. Key issues which will be addressed in these sectoral plans and other aspects of the Strategy include:

Assessment for, and access to, appropriate health and education services including residential care, community based care, and mental health services within the framework of the Disability Act, 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act, 2004. Developments will include:

Implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004;

Person-centred supports will continue to be developed for long stay residents in psychiatric hospitals, with a view to their movement back into community living;

Central to the successful implementation of the National Disability Strategy will be a process of financial accountability. Clear guidelines will be developed to ensure that the investment in the Strategy delivers value for money and real tangible benefits to people with disabilities;

Person centred supports will continue to be provided to 'adults with significant disabilities', having regard to the range of support needs which they require, e.g. nursing, personal assistance, respite, rehabilitation, day activities, etc.;

In its consideration of the core funding requirements of agencies providing services for people with disabilities, the HSE will be asked to take into account the appropriateness of core funding essential health and person social services;

Establishing on a statutory basis the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) (which currently inspects children's residential and foster care services on an administrative basis) through the legislation for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which is expected to be published during the 2006 Autumn Session, and;

Developing a strategic integrated approach to rehabilitation services within the context of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme with a view to supporting back into employment, as appropriate, through early intervention and enhanced service provision.

The elaboration of a comprehensive employment strategy for People with Disabilities including a range of measures to promote education, vocational training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including:

Consolidation and progressing vocational training and employment services for people with disabilities;

Exploring the potential for extending the NEAP FÁS referral process to people with disabilities in the context of their special needs and the Government's commitment to mainstreaming. This will include exploring issues of health and welfare entitlements and benefits and examining and addressing the disincentives for people in receipt of income maintenance or secondary payments who wish to participate in training or employment initiatives;

Public service employment in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Act, 2005;

Promoting awareness regarding the employment of people with disabilities and promoting employment retention, and;

The suite of materials developed under the Workway initiative will inform future policy and best practice in relation to the employment of people with disabilities.

National Standards will be introduced in respect of specialist health services for people with disabilities, taking into account the draft standards already prepared by the National Disability Authority, together with the report of the Working Group on the development of a Code of Practice for Sheltered Workshops.

In terms of ensuring adequate levels of income for people with disabilties, we will work for the continued enhancement and integration of supports in line with overall social welfare commitments and targets. This will include a rationalisation of existing allowances for people with disabilities in the context of the Government's policy of mainstreaming and the proposed transfer of functions from the HSE to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Other issues around cost of disability will be considered following the development of a needs assessment system provided for under Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005.

Evolving building standards and the potential for advancements in design in the future should lead to general improvements in the accessibility of the Irish housing stock over time. However, it is recognised that people with a disability often have fewer choices in terms of providing for their housing and accommodation needs.

To bring a new focus to addressing these needs, a National Housing Strategy for People with Disabilities will be developed, as recommended in the NESC 'Housing in Ireland' Report in order to support the provision of tailored housing and housing support to people with disabilities. This would have particular regard for adults with significant disabilities and people who experience mental illness. This will be progressed through the establishment of a National Group under the aegis of the Housing Forum headed by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and involving the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, social partners and other relevant stakeholders.

The development of information adequacy services for people with disabilities. In particular, legislative provision for the introduction of the new personal advocacy service will provide for the assignment of a personal advocate to a person with a disability who is unable or who has difficulty in obtaining a social service without the assistance or support of the personal advocate. This will complement, in a balanced way, the other advocacy and support functions of Comhairle in relation to people with disabilities.

The question of accessible public transport services will be addressed in the Sectoral Plan being developed by the Department of Transport. The Plan will deal with the accessibility of the range of transport services, including the continued introduction of accessible vehicles, the provision of accessible infrastructure, and travel information systems.

Progress reports will be prepared on sectoral plans after 3 years and the Disability Act will be reviewed after 5 years.

Detailed consultations have been undertaken with stakeholders in relation to each of the sectoral plans being developed. Arrangements will also be put in place to ensure a continued constructive relationship with stakeholders in relation to progress on the Strategy as a whole. This will include bi-annual meetings between senior officials and other stakeholders.

In addition, each sectoral plan will include monitoring and review procedures. Departments are also required to set out in the sectoral plans the arrangements that will be put in place to monitor the compliance of state bodies and other relevant service providers with the provisions of the Disability Act, 2005.

Departments have published Customer Charters which include commitments in relation to equality and access and are required to report on performance in their Annual reports.

Inclusion of service accessibility and sectoral plan measures where relevant in the strategy statements of all Departments will be considered in the context of the updating of guidelines for the preparation of Departmental Strategy Statements.

The Government has agreed to amend the Cabinet Handbook to incorporate a requirement that all substantive memoranda submitted to Government take account of the impact on people with disabilities. Appropriate guidance will be developed to assist with the proofing requirements in the context of proposals being developed in relation to equality proofing more generally.

The Minister has outlined the Government's progress in achieving these objectives and I look forward to seeing all of them being achieved.