Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 87: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if work has begun on establishing a personal advocacy service for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26168/07]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of personal advocates to be recruited for the new personal advocacy service under the Citizens Information Board; where the advocates will be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26171/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 120: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the new personal advocacy service for people with disabilities, under the Citizens Information Board, is on target to become operational in January 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 117 and 120 together.

The development of personal advocacy services is a priority for my Department and in this regard additional funding of €1.9m has been provided for the Citizens Information Board in 2007 for the development of an advocacy service for people with disabilities and for the implementation of the Disability Sectoral Plan.

The personal Advocacy Service will be initially located in Dublin. When the service is well established, it is anticipated that advocates will be located in a number of key highly populated areas around the country. However, it is not possible at this stage to give estimates of the number of advocates to be employed.

An organisational structure has been developed by the Citizens Information Board to meet the needs of the Personal Advocacy Service. Discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and the Citizens Information Board are ongoing in relation to these structures and the additional staffing resources required for the provision of the service. Temporary accommodation has been identified to facilitate the immediate needs of the service and it is envisaged that the post of Director of the Personal Advocacy Service will be advertised shortly.

The establishment of the new service is on target and will commence when the Director is appointed and the appropriate structures have been put in place and the service will be up and running in the early part of 2008.

I am meeting with the Chairman and the CEO of the Citizens Information Board this week to discuss the implementation of the Personal Advocacy Service and its development in to the future. I am committed to the introduction of a Personal Advocacy Service in this regard.