Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reassure the Dáil that she will not oppose the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 across all ages. [27898/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the timeframe for the completion of negotiations between the Department of Education and Science and her Department with the Health Service Executive for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. [27899/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she carried out a study of the effect of only implementing the Disability Act 2005 for the nought to five years age group; and the effect of excluding the vast majority of persons with disabilities from the Act. [27900/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the provisions in place, in view of her stated policy and her Health Service Executive agents to implement the Disability Act 2005 in stages starting with the nought to five years age group, to maintain services for these children as they move out of this age group; the provisions in place for those children within the service at the other end of the age group; and if she will confirm that adequate provision is being made for these children. [27901/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the provision of the Disability Act 2005 will be available to all persons with a disability. [27902/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 142, inclusive, together.

The National Disability Strategy, which was launched in September 2004, provides for a framework of new supports for people with disabilities. The Strategy builds on a strong equality framework, which is reflected in several pieces of equality legislation. The main elements of the Strategy are:

The Disability Act 2005;

The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (EPSEN) 2004;

Six Outline Sectoral Plans published by Government Departments;

The Citizens Information Act 2007.

A Multi-Annual Investment Package, as committed to by Government, has been put in place to support these measures. One of the most important aspects of the Department of Health and Children's Sectoral Plan is the arrangements for commencing Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005. Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 commenced for children aged under 5 years with effect from 1 June 2007. This prioritisation reflects the importance of intervention early in life, which can have a significant impact on the disabling effects of a condition or impairment.

The arrangements for further commencement of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 cannot be considered in isolation from the arrangements for the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004 which is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science and which provides for educational services for people with disabilities. It is proposed that Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will be commenced in respect of children aged 5-18 in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004. In preparation for its implementation, health related support services for children aged 5 to 18 and for adults continue to be enhanced to enable the Health Service Executive to meet needs identified for this group. In this regard, an additional €50m was provided for services for people with disabilities in 2008 and the HSE has confirmed that it is now in a position to roll out the planned developments as outlined in its 2008 Service Plan.

A Cross-Sectoral team, consisting of senior officials from the Office for Disability and Mental Health, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science, the Health Service Executive and the National Council for Special Education was established in 2006 and meets on a regular basis. This group continues to address issues arising in relation to the implementation of both Acts. Proposals for implementation are being finalised at present and will be considered in the context of the estimates for 2009 and subsequent years.