Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will introduce the advocacy service for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30867/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The introduction of a personal advocacy service for people with disabilities is provided for in the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004, which was published in September 2004 in conjunction with the Disability Bill 2004.

The Bill aims to assign additional and enhanced functions to Comhairle, the national information agency, which will enable it to introduce a personal advocacy service for people with disabilities. The Bill envisages advocacy services as "supporting people with disabilities to identify and understand their needs and options, and to secure their entitlements to social services". Social services are broadly defined. They include health, social welfare, education, family support, housing, taxation, citizenship, consumer matters, employment and training.

The proposed service will provide for the assignment of a personal advocate to assist, support and represent a person with a disability in applying for and obtaining social services and in pursuing any right of review or appeal in connection with those services. It is envisaged that the new personal advocacy service will be introduced early in 2008.

In preparation for the services contained in the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004, Comhairle launched a new programme of advocacy services for people with disabilities in September 2005. This programme will be delivered by 13 organisations based across the country in the voluntary and community sector and it will be funded by Comhairle. The funding will provide trained advocates within the organisations concerned to assist vulnerable people with a disability in addressing their individual needs and options. I propose to bring the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill 2004 before the Houses of the Oireachtas early in 2006.