Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Services for People with Disabilities

10:00 am

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the implementation of the sectoral plans in his Department as part of the Disability Act 2005; if he envisages delays in the roll-out of the timetable set out in his announcement in July 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40095/06]

Photo of Séamus BrennanSéamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Over the period of my Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act, 2005 (2006/2009), my Department aims to deliver support to people with disabilities to help them achieve an appropriate level of independence by achieving their full potential through accessing further education, developing life skills and engaging in employment.

My Department will continue to provide appropriate levels of income to those who need it. Specific measures include improving the lowest rates of income support by increasing the lowest rates to €150 a week in 2002 terms by 2007 (in line with the commitment in the National Anti Poverty Strategy). The plan also provides for examining the incentive effects of disability payment levels, addressing benefit traps and employment disincentives within the structure of welfare disability schemes and examining the potential for extending, improving and rationalising schemes to better support people in their efforts to take up training opportunities and participate in employment.

Implementation of the sectoral plan is underway in my Department and I do not envisage delays in its implementation. Recent initiatives include, improvements in the earnings disregard, from June 2006, for people receiving Disability Allowance or Blind Pension and the abolition, in September 2006, of peak hour restrictions on the use of the Free Travel Pass. The result is that people with disabilities may now use their passes going to work or attending educational, rehabilitative and therapeutic courses that are, very often, central to improving their lifestyles. There have been significant improvements to Carers Allowance so that, for example, a couple can earn up to €580 a week and receive the maximum rate of carers allowance as well as free travel, the household benefits package and the respite care grant.

The Citizens Information Bill, 2006, which provides for the introduction of a Personal Advocacy Service for people with disabilities — a key priority in my Department's sectoral plan — is before Dail Eireann at present. Budget 2006 provided over €2 million to Comhairle for the development of advocacy services by the community and voluntary sector for people with disabilities and by the end of this year some 30 advocacy projects will be in place throughout the country. Earlier this month, I launched a report which sets out proposals for a new Sign Language Interpretation Service for some 5,000 people with hearing impairment to be rolled out by Comhairle in two phases commencing in 2007.

Work is on schedule in my Department in relation to other commitments in the plan including disability awareness training for front line staff and a comprehensive set of actions to ensure full accessibility for people with disabilities to the offices and the services provided by my Department. The implementation of the sectoral plan is a key priority in my Department's business and strategic planning processes over the next three years. Our objective is to ensure that people with disabilities receive high quality services that best support, recognise and encourage them in using and making a full contribution to society, in line with the Government's National Disability Strategy.

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