February 10 2010

Parliamentary Questions

• Improve taxi services for people with disabilities
• Update Mental Health Act in line with Un Convention
• Access to train services for people with a disability on Limerick to Dublin route
• Maximum amount the spouse of a disability benefit claimant can earn before losing their child dependant increase
• Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
• Adequacy of respite in Co. Kildare
• Child psychiatric services in County Kildare

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Improve taxi services for people with disabilities

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 152 and 153 of 26 November 2009, if he has given full consideration to the proposals to improve taxi services for persons with disabilities submitted by the Commission for Taxi Regulation to his Department to incentivise the upgrading of the wheelchair accessible fleet; the action he has taken or will take as a result;

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The Commission for Taxi Regulation has recently submitted revised proposals to incentivise the upgrading of the wheelchair accessible taxi fleet. These proposals are currently under consideration in my Department. 

• Update Mental Health Act in line with Un Convention

Deputy Andrew Doyle (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she has taken to review the Mental Health Act 2001, to update this in line with the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in view of the proposed amendments to the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill due out in 2010; the further action taken to co-ordinate the delivery of mental health services across Departments; if a new strategy is being developed to promote the delivery of community based mental health services;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Mental Health Act 2001 provides a modern framework for the admission and treatment of persons with a mental disorder. It provides important safeguards to people who are involuntarily admitted by ensuring that all admission and renewal orders are subject to automatic and independent review by a Mental Health Tribunal. The Act also established the Mental Health Commission which is responsible for promoting, encouraging and fostering the establishment of high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and taking all reasonable steps to protect the interests of persons detained in approved centres. The Act is due to be reviewed in 2011 and the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability will be among the issues to be considered in that context. A Vision for Change outlines Government policy for the future development of mental health services including community based services. In January 2008, the Government established the Office for Disability and Mental Health as a cross-cutting Government Office with a remit across four Government Departments: Health and Children, Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Office provides for greater cohesion across the public service and brings together responsibility for a range of different policy areas and State services. The Office was assigned four key priorities one of which is to bring a new impetus to the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’ working in partnership with the HSE and other stakeholders including other Government Departments to achieve implementation of agreed targets. Bilateral meetings with officials from other Government Departments to discuss progressing recommendations in ‘A Vision for Change’ and‘Reach Out’ the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention take place within this context. 

• Access to train services for people with a disability on Limerick to Dublin route

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan (L): asked the Minister for Transport if persons with disabilities have adequate access to a train service between Limerick and Dublin; if his attention has been drawn to the fact many of the direct trains have been replaced by the Dublin to Cork service with a change at Limerick Junction for Limerick; if he will engage with Iarnród Éireann to address the difficulties this causes to persons with disabilities; Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): I understand from Iarnród Éireann that three off-peak direct trains between Limerick and Dublin in each direction have been replaced with connecting trains via Limerick Junction. An all day shuttle train service is provided to and from Limerick City. Iarnród Éireann has also informed me that assistance is given to disabled passengers at Limerick Junction for customers changing trains and this can be arranged in advance if necessary.  

• Maximum amount the spouse of a disability benefit claimant can earn before losing their child dependant increase

Deputy Róisín Shortall (L): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the maximum amount the spouse of a disability benefit claimant can earn before losing their child dependant increase.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): A person in receipt of Illness Benefit whose spouse or partner has a gross income in excess of €400 per week is not entitled to an increased payment for a qualified child. 

• Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

Deputy Richard Bruton (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science if the terms of the vocational training opportunities scheme and back to education allowance have been aligned and in respect of the period of claiming before eligibility is established for different types of courses; and the eligibility of those under 21 years who have a severe disability.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Seán Haughey): The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is funded by my Department and operated through the Vocational Education Committees (VECs). It provides full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults (including those with disabilities) who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified Social Welfare payments for at least six months. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities who are getting certain payments from that Department. The allowance can be paid to people over 21 years of age who wish to participate in approved second or third level courses of education. People over 18 years of age in receipt of the Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension or Incapacity Supplement for the required period of time may be eligible for the BTEA as well. The alignment of VTOS with the BTEA scheme in respect of both these issues is currently under review in my Department. 

• Adequacy of respite in Co. Kildare

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of respite care for parents and carers of children and adults with special needs in County Kildare and throughout the country;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 

• Child psychiatric services in County Kildare

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the full extent of the child psychiatric services in County Kildare; the number of cases on hand and pending; the degree of availability of services as required by general practitioners, schools or other referrals; the extent to which it is expected to meet the requirements on an ongoing basis; her plans to address these issues;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

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