Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators on all sides for their contributions on this proposed legislation. I listened very carefully to the points made. As the Bill goes through the different Stages in the House, I will try to respond to the points made.

Senator John Paul Phelan asked a number of questions. In the initial phase of the service, it is planned that the director of the personal advocacy service and four to six personal advocates and support staff will be recruited. He also asked about the location. The director of the personal advocacy service will be based in Dublin initially but on decentralisation of the citizens information board headquarters, he or she will move to Drogheda. As the service develops throughout the country, it is intended that trained advocates would be located in different parts of the country. This all depends on the demand for the service as it develops. Some advocates will be placed at local level, again depending on the requirement. There is a certain degree of useful flexibility.

On recruitment, the initial steps have been put in place without in any way pre-empting the legislation. However, formal recruitment will begin when the legislation goes through the House and is signed by the President.

Senator John Paul Phelan expressed concerns about the assignment of personal advocates and how people would know about the service. The board will continue to consult organisations throughout the country.

It is important to state this is a completely new service as the provision of public services have not been approached in this manner in Ireland previously. To some extent we will be obliged to learn as the service is rolled out, to remain flexible, to continue to consult and to make the requisite changes as we proceed. We will do so while keeping our eye on the ball and on the main objective, namely, as Senator Ó Murchú has just noted, to ensure that people receive the rights to which they are entitled.

In respect of how people will know about the service, it will be highly proactive. The legislation requires the citizen information board and the advocates to seek out and offer support, as well as targeting those who may need the service to bring it to their attention. Rather than adopting a reactive approach, I specifically included such a proactive approach in the legislation. The service will undertake a programme to promote awareness. For example, it will contact GPs, public service nurses, social workers, hospital and residential services, as well as day centres. In addition, public representatives will be given full information as the service is rolled out. It will also undertake a number of training and developmental initiatives as it develops.

I have also asked the board to establish a committee of the board to include representatives of disability groups. Its purpose is to advise me on further measures I can put in place at an administrative level as the service comes together. In response to Senator John Paul Phelan's question as to how the public will know about the service, this will be achieved through the aforementioned proactive high-powered awareness campaign and programme, which will be undertaken as soon as the service gets moving.

As for the issue of sign language schemes for deaf people, some time ago I launched a plan for a language service for deaf people who use sign language in Ireland to ensure that members of the community have full access to public services. It sets out a phased approach to the development of services in the next few years and involves the establishment of a new entity, the Irish sign language interpretative centre to develop and deliver services while maximising the benefits of new technology, in order that people throughout the country may have access to such services. I launched this service regarding sign language for deaf people recently. It is amazing how technology has changed everyone's life. Members can imagine the benefits that have been offered suddenly to those who face the difficulty of being deaf in modern society by the advent of text messaging. One can envisage the benefits of technology and how we need to support technological developments in support of people with different problems and issues. The Department will invest almost €3 million in this service during the next few years.

Senator John Paul Phelan also asked about mistakes made or wrong advice given by personal advocates. The citizens information board will have in place a fairly robust, highly transparent and public system of complaints. A customer who is dissatisfied with the services of a personal advocate will be able to complain in the first instance to the director mentioned in the legislation. Thereafter, complaints may be made to the board itself and there will be full access to an appeal system. Consequently, I am satisfied that any incorrect advice will be flushed out fairly rapidly by the system. The Senator also raised some other queries that I can deal with on a one to one basis, if necessary. Alternatively, I can revert to them at another time such as on Committee Stage.

In respect of Senator Cox's comments, as usual Senator Ó Murchú has put his finger on it in the course of an excellent philosophical analysis of the need for such a service. Senator Cox was correct to raise this question. One could as well ask why a social welfare, health or any other service is required. The Senator is correct that in a perfect, ideal world, one would not require such a service and I would like to live in such a world.

Sometimes we all make the mistake of associating disability with those who are confined to wheelchairs. However, many people have other disabilities, including sensory and intellectual disabilities, some of whom will need advocates more than others. While some are more than capable of fighting the system themselves, others need someone to fight it for them. This resembles the need for the Combat Poverty Agency. Although such an agency should not be necessary, for as long as poverty exists, there should be an agency to attack it and sort it out, as well as campaigning for and championing those affected.

The citizens information agency is required similarly for as long as people need support to fight the system. While they should not be obliged to fight the system, that is the reality of life. The involvement of the European Union and other authorities, such as State boards and companies, central Departments and so on has made the system both vast and increasingly complex. The more complex it becomes, the greater the need for the vulnerable to have someone on their side. I was greatly taken by the comments made by Senators Mansergh and Ó Murchú regarding the role of public representatives who provide such an advocacy service.

Senators Cox and Brady also raised the question of funding. I can confirm that the total grant for 2007 is €28.4 million, of which €4.3 is earmarked for the advocacy service and I have already spoken in respect of the sign language centre.

I hope my contribution did not give Senator Cox the wrong impression regarding the possible refusal of funding to groups that did not measure up to some requirements. One reason for the name change is because the citizens information board will fund citizens information centres throughout the State. I wanted to ensure that both the public and, increasingly, immigrants would see a brand they could recognise and that this would be an organisation that does what it says on the tin. It is a brand that people can recognise and support.

The citizen information centres throughout the State perform excellent work, involving substantial number of volunteers, whom I salute in particular. However, I wished to ensure that such centres will continue to strive to reach a high standard that can be verified nationally and independently. I do not envisage many refusals. Instead I envisage that the central board will support all the centres nationwide in their continued efforts to maintain standards. Many fine organisations are involved in such work and I wish to join with Members in paying tribute to them. My words in no way reflected on them because I have nothing but the highest admiration for them.