Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his Department's sectoral plan to improve disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22549/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As required under the Disability Act 2005, my Department's sectoral plan will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas no later than 28 July 2006. The finalised plan will build on the outline sectoral plan, published in September 2004, and subsequent consultations with people with disabilities, representative organisations and other Government Departments with linked sectoral plans. It will set out national objectives and guidelines for access to local authority public buildings, services, facilities, amenities, and information, as well as to heritage sites and other facilities managed by my Department.

In parallel, Part M of the Building Regulations will also be reviewed and updated in accordance with a commitment set out in the Outline Plan, and the Building Control Bill 2005, published in December 2005, will, when enacted, strengthen the enforcement powers of local authorities and introduce a Disability Access Certification system to ensure that new buildings, or buildings which have been extended or materially altered should be accessible to all.

Each local authority will be required to draw up an implementation plan within nine months of the statutory approval of the sectoral plans by the Houses of the Oireachtas, on the basis of a detailed accessibility audit. The implementation plans, drawn up in consultation with organisations representing people with disabilities, will set out a programme of actions to give effect to the commitments and objectives contained in the 2005 Act, in order to promote and pro-actively encourage equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in the economic, social and cultural life of the community.

I have provided €18 million in 2006 to help local authorities and other bodies under the aegis of my Department to implement the National Disability Strategy, as part of a multi-annual funding programme, begun in 2005, which will continue until 2009.