December 02 2009

Dáil Debates

• Leaders Questions: Social Policy Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach
• Order of Business: Capacity legislation

Parliamentary Questions

• Sports Inclusion Development Officers

DÁIL DEBATES

• Leaders Questions: Social Policy Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach

Deputy Eamon Gilmore (L): I am unclear as to what the social policy unit in the Department of the Taoiseach does. What does it do that the Department of Social and Family Affairs cannot do? Will the Taoiseach give the House some idea as to the size of the unit, and what it costs?

The Taoiseach: I do not have the cost of it. It is a unit in the Department headed by an assistant secretary. She and her staff do excellent work and are well regarded in the whole social policy area. She advises me, as Taoiseach, on social policy matters and helps in the preparation of Cabinet committee meetings in the areas of responsibility that come under the aegis of the unit. She also provides, ensures and seeks to promote a whole of Government approach to all issues such as the national disability strategy or the question on how travellers’ policy is dealt with. There has been much improvement on the disability issue and the bringing forward of offices led by Ministers of State to provide cross-departmental functions has been a success. I refer in particular to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the office pertaining to disabilities. Issues regarding the labour market or broad social inclusion are obvious areas for which any Department of the Taoiseach would be obliged to have a competence and capacity. It does its work well.

• Order of Business: Capacity legislation

Deputy Lucinda Creighton (FG): When does the Government plan to publish the mental capacity Bill? I understand that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform originally said it would be published last Easter, but we are still awaiting its publication. This legislation is important because it will protect the most vulnerable people in our society. It is essential because it will update extremely archaic legislation that dates back to 1871. The 1871 Act urgently needs to be updated so that we can fulfil our obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Taoiseach: I understand it is hoped to bring that legislation forward early in the new year.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Sports Inclusion Development Officers

Deputy Jack Wall (L): asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on correspondence (details supplied); the funding provided to the group to date in 2009; his plans to fund this group in the future in view of the valuable work that the group are doing with the disability groups;

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Special funding of €2.5 million was allocated from the dormant accounts fund for the appointment of 20 Sports Inclusion Development Officers (SIDOs) in Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) in 2008. The SIDOs were appointed on two-year contracts to provide opportunities for persons with a disability to participate in sport and physical activity. A network of 33 LSPs have been set up throughout the country by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) to coordinate and promote sport at local level especially amongst specific target groups such as older people, girls and women, people with disabilities, unemployed people, and those who live in identified disadvantaged communities. The special dormant accounts funding was in addition to the annual funding provided to the LSPs by the ISC for programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing participation in recreational sport. The ISC has allocated €6 million to the LSPs in 2009. The continuation of the SIDO scheme from 2010 will be dependent on the outcome of the 2010 Estimates deliberations.

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