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Dáil Debates & Questions
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MAY 13 2008 Dáil Debates
Parliamentary Questions
DÁIL DEBATES Deputy Seán Barrett (FG): Has the Taoiseach assigned responsibility for children with autism to a Minister of State? This is a typical example where responsibility crosses Departments, especially in regard to the educational needs of children with autism. If he has not assigned responsibility, I ask him to do so as soon as possible. There are ongoing difficulties between the Departments of Education and Science and Health and Children in regard to back-up services, such as speech and other behavioural therapies. We have an opportunity to deal with this issue once and for all. I recently tabled a parliamentary question asking if we could include a question in the next census asking if anyone in a household has autism in order that we know exactly what we are dealing with. An Ceann Comhairle (John O’Donoghue TD): We cannot go into that matter. I call the Taoiseach on the issue of assignment of responsibilities. The Taoiseach (Brian Cowen TD): The Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, will have cross-cutting responsibility through his disabilities and equality brief. Mental health is a separate issue. There is the whole question of mainstreaming autism services in our schools about which there are varying opinions. A significant amount of resources is going into that area. I do not believe it is about one Minister having responsibility for it across Departments but it is about Ministers liaising, planning, working, co-operating and networking to get these matters sorted to the greatest possible extent within the resources available. Deputy Seán Barrett: Somebody must be given responsibility to lead this. The Taoiseach: The responsibility in the school system quite clearly lies with the Minister for Education and Science and responsibility for the provision of disability services generally lies with the Department of Health and Children. There are also issues relating to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in terms of the statutory protections and standards put in place. That issue is being improved on by the new arrangements not only started here but being built on by bringing equality into that area as well.
Deputy Seán Barrett (FG): I wish to raise with the Minister of State the wide disparity in average waiting times in the Dublin area for 4,136 children who urgently require speech and language therapy services which vary from as low as three months in Dublin North-Central to 31 months in south Dublin and 32 months in Dublin west. I have been following up on this matter now for more than 12 months. The situation in the south Dublin area, which includes my constituency, is going from bad to worse. It is extraordinary in that in the Dublin area there are 4,136 children urgently seeking speech and language therapy. The number involved is frightening when one considers the consequences for each child who does not receive early attention. The Bacon report, published six years ago, recommended that the number of speech and language therapists be increased four-fold to 100 per annum to attain a total of 12,085 therapists by 2015. Those who have qualified are not being employed on the basis that they have no experience. I do not understand how a person can gain experience without being given the opportunity to do so. As a consequence, a number of young children in particular are waiting substantial periods for treatment. I raised on the Adjournment in January or February this year the situation in respect of a five year old child living in my constituency. I contacted the HSE about this child on 10 November last and was told that having waited 12 months for assessment he had been assessed as an urgent case but that it would be at least a year before he obtained treatment. Children are having to wait one year to be assessed and, having been assessed as in need of urgent treatment, must wait another year for it. In April, I decided to follow up on the matter to get the latest position in respect of this child. I received a reply which stated that things were worse and that it would be at least another 12 months before got treatment. Despite this child having been assessed as an urgent case, he will have to wait 18 months for treatment. In Dublin North-Central, there is a three month waiting period for assessment with 207 children on the waiting list. In south Dublin, which includes Dun Laoghaire, there are 598 children on a waiting list and the waiting period is 31 months. These figures were supplied to me by the HSE. I cannot understand this. In Dublin west, for example, the waiting period is 32 months. Surely, something can be done about children five years old and upwards having to wait for up to 31 months at a minimum before they receive treatment. I hope the Minister of State can explain to me this evening on what basis such disparity exists. Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Máire Hoctor): I take this Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I emphasise the Government’s commitment to providing a high quality service to all people with a disability. This commitment is illustrated by the substantial investment in disability services in recent years. The National Disability Strategy launched in September 2004 reinforces equal participation in society of people with disabilities and provides for a framework of new supports for people with disabilities. This strategy, together with the enhancement of other key support services, are key factors in building the additional capacity required to ensure that services best meet identified needs. The strategy builds on a strong equality framework, which is reflected in equality legislation. It puts the policy of mainstreaming public services for people with disabilities on a clear legal footing. The main elements of the strategy are the Disability Act 2005, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, EPSEN Act, sectoral plans published in 2006 by six Departments, Citizens Information Act 2007 and the multi-annual investment programme 2006-2009 for disability support services. An integral part of the National Disability Strategy is the multi-annual investment programme, MAIP, announced in the 2005 budget, which gives a commitment to a cumulative capital and revenue programme of €900 million with the bulk of this funding being spent on health services for people with a disability during the period 2006 to 2009. These commitments include the development of new residential, respite and day places for persons with intellectual disability and autism in each of the years covered by the programme. As the Deputy is aware, an additional €50 million was allocated by the Government for the provision of disability services in budget 2008 of which €9.8 million was allocated for the provision of 140 additional therapy posts. These 140 posts are being allocated to disability services in 2008 to provide assessment and ongoing intervention services to children with a disability and in particular with reference to the implementation of the Disability Act for children under five years of age, which commenced on 1 June 2007. By the end of the current multi-annual investment programme in 2009, it is expected that 1,235 new residential places, 398 new respite places and 467 new day care places will have been commissioned for intellectual disability services in addition to 380 new residential places and 1,150,000 extra personal assistant-home support hours for people with physical and sensory disabilities. With regard to the matter raised by the Deputy on the Adjournment, the HSE has informed the Department of Health and Children that speech and language therapists are concerned with the assessment, diagnosis and management of communication and swallowing disorders. Children referred to speech and language therapy services undergo an initial assessment to identify the existence and severity of the need for ongoing therapy. The priority for ongoing intervention is dependent on the nature and severity of the disorder, following assessment. The HSE has consistently endeavoured to prioritise the provision of speech and language therapy to children with speech and language delay or disorders. The development of additional primary care services, through the establishment of primary care teams, has led to the creation of several additional speech and language therapy posts. In addition, funding allocated for the development of disability services in line with the multi-annual investment programme and the national disability strategy also allowed an increase in speech and language therapy resources. This prioritisation of speech and language therapy is evidenced by an increase in the number of speech and language therapists employed by the HSE and by agencies funded by the HSE from 498 in December 2004 to 724 in February 2008. However, the HSE states that notwithstanding the 45% increase in speech and language therapy posts, some individual local health office areas have experienced difficulties in replacing staff members who have left the service. In addition the complexity of service delivery, including the way in which services have been managed by a range of agencies and funded across different care groups, has not resulted in a cohesive approach to service provision. These factors have a bearing on the waiting times for services as raised by the Deputy in this Adjournment debate. As part of its transformation programme, the HSE is developing co-ordinated early intervention services in each local health office. This will ensure that all resources available to each local health office, including those in non-statutory agencies, work as part of a cohesive single service to address the needs of all children. The HSE states that it is also planning to improve the range and effectiveness of services to children from five to 18 years. These plans are being developed in co-operation with the Office for Disability and Mental Health in the context of preparation for the implementation of the EPSEN Act and the extension of the Disability Act for this age cohort. The Office for Disability and Mental Health was established in January of this year with a remit, inter alia, to facilitate the delivery of integrated health and education support services for children with a disability. PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to allow people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after three years. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): In accordance with the Health Service Executive’s Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines, persons in receipt of the following allowances/benefits for a period of 12 months or more can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date of taking up full-time employment:
Such persons taking up part-time employment can retain their medical card for a period of three years from the date their income exceeds the relevant medical card guideline figure. Persons participating on the following Government Schemes retain eligibility for a medical card for the duration of the scheme:
A person moving from one scheme to another will retain eligibility to a medical card as long as they remain on one of the above schemes. Adult and child dependants of persons who retain their medical card either through receipt of specified allowances/benefits or participation on the above Government Schemes are also eligible for a medical card. The Programme for Government commits to allowing people with disabilities to work without losing key essential medical card cover after 3 years. My Department is at present considering the most appropriate approach to the implementation of this commitment. Deputy Eamon Gilmore (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount allocated in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for the implementation of the commitments contained in A Vision for Change; the amount of the allocation of the €25 million additional investment in 2006 and 2007 that has been spent on mental health services to date; the outcome of same; the plans for any unspent amount of the allocations in 2006 and 2007; the reason no additional funding has been allocated in 2008 for implementation of A Vision for Change; Deputy Jan O’Sullivan (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to invest in and fully implement the Vision for Change Strategy and provide further additional funding to support the recovery model of mental health service provision; Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The estimated additional cost of the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’ the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy is €150m over 7-10 years. A total of €51.2 million has been allocated since 2006 which represents over a third of the overall requirement. In addition to the extra funding required to finance ‘A Vision for Change’, existing resources need to be remodelled and reallocated. It is clear that the implementation of the report is dependent to a much greater extent on the remodelling of existing resources, than on new additional funding. It is also clear that additional investment must be phased in parallel with the reorganisation of mental health services and resources. In view of the significant additional investment in 2006 and 2007, it is necessary to pause and review the situation in 2008, to ensure consolidation of the investment to date. Substantial resources have been invested in mental health services. Estimated expenditure in 2006 and 2007 was €984 million and €1 billion, respectively. It is also important to bear in mind that some 90% of mental health services are provided at primary care level. Expenditure on these services is not captured in the above figures. The Department of Health and Children has been advised by the HSE that €24 million of the €51.2 million development funding was not used as planned because of competing expenditure pressures and the overriding obligation on the HSE to live within its overall Vote. As a result, some of the planned developments in mental health services have been delayed; however, some of the mental health services funded in 2006 and 2007 will be put in place in 2008. These include:
The implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’ will be a key priority for the recently established Office for Disability and Mental Health. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to index the income thresholds for medical cards to increases in the average industrial wage; the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to double the income limit eligibility for parents of children under six years of age and treble them for parents of children with an intellectual disability under 18 years of age; Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Programme for Government commits to the following:
Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to commence by June 2007, the provision for an independent assessment of need for all children with disabilities under five years of age as a legal right; the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to build on this by providing a legal right to independent assessment for all persons with disabilities. Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): 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, totalling some €900 million over the period 2006-2009. The Disability Act 2005 is one of the central elements of the Strategy. Part 2 of the Act sets down a range of statutory entitlements which are designed to underscore the engagement of people with disabilities with everyday life. In particular, Part 2 provides a statutory entitlement to: An independent assessment of health and education needs; A statement of services (Service Statement) which it is proposed to provide; Pursue a complaint through the Health Service Executive complaints process if necessary; Make a appeal to the independent Disability Appeals Officer. 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 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. The Department of Education and Science has informed the Department that it is envisaged that all sections of the EPSEN Act 2004 will be implemented over a five year timeframe, with the assessment process as provided for in the EPSEN Act 2004 due to commence in 2010. 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 adults will continue to be enhanced to enable the Health Service Executive to meet needs identified for this group. The statutory requirements of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will be extended to adults as soon as possible, but no later than 2011. A Cross-Sectoral team comprising of 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 and meets on a regular basis and continues to address issues arising in relation to the implementation of both Acts. A sub-group of this team was set up in January 2008, in order to plan for the commencement of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the relevant sections of the EPSEN Act 2004 in respect of children aged 5 to 18 and adults. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason children who are receiving speech therapy in a facility (details supplied) in Dublin 20 have to rejoin a general waiting list for speech therapy when they begin attending mainstream school; if this policy will be changed in view of the detrimental effect that this often lengthy interruption of service has on young children who are in need of ongoing speech therapy; Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As part of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 under the Disability Strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75m in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included monies to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on June 1st 2007 for the under 5’s and also for the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements. The Government is also honouring its promise in relation to the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50m investment which was announced in the 2008 Budget. The Deputy’s specific question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to put in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities which will help people into work in all sectors; the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to accessible vocational training. Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Under the Programme for Government, A Blueprint for Ireland’s Future 2007-2012, my Department is committed to putting in place a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities which will help people into work in all sectors. This strategy is a key component of the sectoral plan for my Department, which was published in 2006 pursuant to the Disability Act 2005. The most significant elements of this plan are as follows:
FÁS offers a number of schemes and programmes aimed at assisting people with disabilities such as the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Supported Employment Programme, the Job Interviewer Interpreter Grant Scheme, the Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme, and the Personal Reader Grant. Reviews of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Supported Employment Programme are currently being carried out. The findings of these reviews, which are expected to be finalised shortly, will inform future actions that might enhance these programmes. With regard to the commitment in the Programme for Government to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to accessible vocational training, this is currently being progressed as part of the policy of mainstreaming labour market services provided by FA´ S for people with disabilities in line with best practice internationally. In this context, people with disabilities who are interested in exploring training options to prepare them for open employment are encouraged to register with their local FA´ S Employment Services Office and meet with an Employment Services Officer who will provide them with information and occupational guidance on alternatives in their area. The Employment Services Office is the access point or gateway for all FÁS training courses and employment programmes. All FÁS Training Centres are accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, FÁS will endeavour to put in place any additional support or assistive technology that a trainee with a disability might require to assist him/her to complete their training successfully once prior notice has been given at registration. While FÁS encourages people with disabilities to consider mainstream training options wherever possible, specialist training programmes are also available for people with disabilities should they require a greater level of support than might be available in a mainstream setting. These programmes have similar FETAC certification as mainstream training programmes. The participation limits for persons eligible for Community Employment based on a Social Welfare disability-linked payment have been increased by 1 year. The participation limit for people with disabilities under 55 years of age is now 4 years while the limit for people with disabilities over 55 years is now 7 years. These measures were introduced in order to provide additional training to assist progression to employment. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made on the commitment given in the programme for Government to further boost disability employment by providing more funding to programmes such as the FÁS wage subsidy scheme and the workplace equipment adaptation grant. Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers outside the public sector to compensate the employer for any deficit in productivity occasioned by an employee’s disability. The FÁS budget for the Wage Subsidy Scheme in 2007 was €10.5m and the actual spend was €7.6m. Just under €7m was spent in 2006. There are currently 522 people with disabilities in open employment being supported by the Wage Subsidy Scheme. Considerable efforts have been made to date to increase the take-up of this programme by both employers and jobseekers with disabilities. My Department has commissioned Goodbody Economic Consultants to carry out a review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme and the findings of this review, which is due shortly, will inform future actions that might enhance this programme. The Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme is available to employers and employees who require premises or equipment to be adapted or for the purchase of specialist equipment to assist employees with disabilities to carry out their employment tasks. The budget for the Workplace Equipment and Adaptation Grant Scheme in 2007 was €234,000 of which €142,000 was actually spent. The actual spend in 2007 represents a decrease on the €217,000 spent under the Scheme in 2006. The issue in relation to these Schemes is not the lack of budget but rather the low take-up by both employers and people with disabilities, despite considerable awareness raising and promotional activities. These programmes represent just two of the employment supports that FA´ S has developed for people with disabilities. Others are the Job Interview Interpreter Grant Scheme; Personal Reader Grant; Employment Retention Grant Scheme and the Supported Employment Programme. FÁS promotes these supports in line with its mainstreaming agenda and to ensure that people with disabilities can access employment opportunities on an equal footing with their peers. Any person with a disability with any queries about these supports or who is interested in exploring avenues that would help them to access employment is encouraged to register at their local FA´ S office and meet an Employment Services Officer. These officers are highly experienced in career guidance and have undertaken disability awareness training. Deputy Mary Upton (L): asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to establish, through Fáilte Ireland, an innovation fund to promote and support the development of tourism products that are new to the market here and to promote best practice, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability and accessibility for tourists with disabilities. Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): I am informed that Fáilte Ireland have launched an innovation fund which offers assistance towards the production of feasibility studies for innovative tourism products. Details of the scheme can be found on the Fáilte Ireland website www.failteireland.ie. This fund complements a range of other product development schemes which have been launched over the past year to support tourism infrastructure, attractions and activity projects, with an emphasis on innovation and environmental sustainability. Fáilte Ireland also have brought tourism suppliers together on a pilot basis in the Southeast region to innovate “Family Fun” products, and will be rolling out further initiatives elsewhere nationally for product offerings based on Adventure and Celtic Culture. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to offer people with disabilities further improved pathways to participation in employment or education, avoiding the benefits trap. Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): My Department provides a number of employment and training incentives to encourage and facilitate people, including people with a disability, to take up available work or training options. These include the back to work and back to education allowances. The back to work allowance provides a monetary incentive for people who are long term dependant on social welfare payments, including illness or disability related payments, designed to make return to work financially attractive and viable. The scheme is designed to support people who would not otherwise be able to return to the workforce. The back to education allowance is an educational opportunities scheme for long term unemployed, lone parents and people with disabilities in receipt of particular social welfare payments. The objective of the scheme is to enhance the employability skills of groups who are distant from the labour market. There are also certain exemptions applying to the qualifying conditions for illness benefit and invalidity pension schemes to facilitate people to undertake employment of a rehabilitative nature. In the case of disability allowance and blind pension, prescribed levels of income from employment are disregarded in the assessment of means for those schemes. The National Development Plan 2007-13 provides for a Social and Economic Participation Programme aimed at promoting participation and social inclusion through activation measures aimed at all people of working age including people on illness or disability related payments. Engagement with customers will have progression to employment as the desired outcome. The programme will build on the existing experience and income maintenance relationship with the people concerned, in co-operation with other relevant service providers such as FÁS, VEC, HSE and other local agencies. An additional 30 facilitators will be assigned during 2008 to enhance the existing network of 40 facilitators who operate locally across the department’s 8 regions. The Department has also secured funding under the European Social Fund Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007 -13 to undertake an activation programme in the Border Midlands and Western (BMW) region aimed specifically a people with disabilities. A high level objective of the programme is to develop and test a comprehensive employment strategy based on individual case management of people with disabilities. The project will bring together key organisations such as FÁS, the VEC and HSE in providing support for people with disabilities to enable them access education and training programmes. It is anticipated that the project, to be located in Mullingar, will be operational by mid summer 2008. I regard these measures as positively addressing the need to engage with people with disabilities in pursuing real opportunities to progress to training and employment. Deputy Róisín Shortall (L): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to ensure a national carers strategy focusing on supporting informal and family carers in the community will be developed by the end of 2007. Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The development of a National Carers’ Strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement “Towards 2016” and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, has begun work on developing the strategy. My Department provides the secretariat to the working group which also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as FÁS and the Health Service Executive. To date the working group has held three meetings, in February March and April. Developing the strategy involves consultation with other government departments and bodies not represented on the working group. The Department of Social and Family Affairs has met with a wide range of organisations including the Equality Authority, Combat Poverty Agency, Citizen’s Information Board, the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Disability Authority. A request for submissions from the public was published in regional newspapers in early March. The closing date for submissions was Friday 18 April 2008. There was a good response from individuals and organisations and the submissions received are currently being examined. “Towards 2016” commits the DSFA to hosting an annual consultation meeting of carer representative groups and relevant departments and agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and 9 government departments and bodies attended. The theme was the National Carers’ Strategy and groups were given an opportunity to comment on the draft terms of reference and to raise other issues considered relevant in the context of the strategy. It is intended that a further meeting with carer groups will be held in early summer. The commitment to the development of a National Carers’ Strategy also includes a commitment to appropriate consultation with the social partners. An update in relation to the strategy was provided to the social partners plenary session in February. The first of two consultation meetings with the social partners was held on 8 May 2008. Key issues raised were recognition for carers and their work, access to suitable health services, income support, training, gender issues and balancing employment and care. It is intended to publish the strategy later this year. Deputy Ruairí Quinn (L): asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to provide each child with special needs with the right to an individual education plan; the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to implement the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in full; the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to improve second level provision for children with special needs; the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to complete the roll out of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, giving all children with special needs, the right to an individual education plan to ensure the best outcome for them, and putting in place a new appeals procedure. Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As the Deputy will be aware, a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special needs. Specifically, the following sections have been commenced- 1, 2, 14(1)(a), 14(1)(c), 14(2) to 14(4), 19 to 37, 40 to 53. When the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004, was enacted it was recognised that implementation would require a considerable change agenda, in order to further develop and support inclusive schools as the cornerstone of special education needs provision. The National Council for Special Education was required under the Act to make a report on the implementation of the Act. Following consideration of the issues raised in the Council’s implementation plan, and the consultations to date with the Education Partners, it is envisaged that the five year timeframe to 2010 acknowledged in the legislation is the appropriate period in which to implement the provisions of the Act in full. My Department is at an advanced stage in finalising proposals to facilitate implementation of the remaining sections, including the provisions in respect of assessment and individual education plans (IEP). The time taken to finalise proposals is as a result of the complexities involved, the need for consultation across the wide range of people and sectors involved, the need to align with the requirements of the Disability Act and define protocols and guidelines in regard to how the Health Service Executive (HSE) and NCSE will work together under both acts. As the EPSEN Act does not provide for phased commencement by age cohort the education sector must be in a position to provide the required services to all children before the relevant provisions are commenced. My Department’s priority, therefore, is to ensure that the necessary training, guidance and supports are in place to facilitate the commencement of the remaining sections of the Act. In parallel with these processes, my Department has also advanced a number of areas relevant to the implementation of EPSEN:
It must also be acknowledged that, during this necessary period of preparation and planning for the roll-out of the EPSEN Act, my Department continues to expand capacity and services for students with special educational needs across the schools network through the work of the National Council for Special Education. With regard to second level provision, the Programme for Government commits to improve post-primary provision for children with special educational needs. Inclusive mainstream education is now the desire of the vast majority of parents and the inclusion of children with a range of additional needs is a growing issue for all schools, including those at post-primary level. My Department considers that the process of implementing the EPSEN Act is an appropriate framework in which to further develop the continuum of appropriate provision for post-primary age children. Specific proposals are being developed to advance post-primary provision for students with special education needs in this context. The Deputy may wish to note that the development of the “Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs: Post-Primary Guidelines” published by my Department’s Inspectorate in June 2007 is a further component of the preparation for the roll-out of the EPSEN Act in post-primary level schools. These guidelines, which were circulated to all second level schools, advocate a whole-school approach to effectively meet the educational needs of special needs students. Practical advice and guidance are provided on the organisation and co-ordination of resources to maximise the support to each individual student. Furthermore, in preparation for the statutory introduction of the individual education plan (IEP), the NCSE has published guidelines on the IEP process and a copy issued to all primary and post primary schools at the commencement of the 2006/2007 school year. These guidelines provide advice and assistance to schools, teachers and parents on devising and implementing individual education plans. It is intended that schools will use these guidelines to develop school practices and procedures in relation to individual education plans in advance of the mandatory requirement for them to do so. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to provide for improved access to lifelong learning for adults with disabilities. Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): My Department’s policy is to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in Further Education by making available the supports required to enable them to access the various programmes on offer. The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), while primarily targeting the unemployed, also facilitates people with disabilities. Under VTOS, full-time courses of one or two years duration are provided to participants to enhance their employability. The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time Further Education programmes for adults to give them an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. People with disabilities are one of the target groups of the programme. Adults with disabilities may also avail of adult literacy courses provided by VECs around the country. A grant has been provided to the Irish Deaf Society to train tutors to give literacy tuition and a grant is awarded annually the Dyslexia Association of Ireland as a contribution towards assessments. An action research pilot project is continuing in a number of Further Education Colleges in the Dublin area. This project is supported by two Disability Support Officers, the National Training and Development Institute and flexible additional funds for transport, equipment, interpreters, etc. The service identifies and offers support to students and staff around the area of disability. The provision of awareness-raising sessions and participation in college open and recruitment days is also an integral element of the role of the Support Officers. My Department is also currently working with the National Office for Equity of Access to Higher Education and the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) to address special education needs of adults in further education. In February of this year, AHEAD, in conjunction with the National Council for Guidance in Education (NCGE) launched a Handbook for Guidance and Information Officers on disability issues in Further Education. In June 2007, building on earlier conferences, a workshop on adults with intellectual disabilities was held at which key stakeholders shared their experiences and discussed possible ways forward for the development of services for people with intellectual disabilities. A scoping paper on the parameters of provision for adults with disabilities in adult education and lifelong learning was commissioned and recently received. This is now under consideration within the Department and will form part of the development of policy in this area. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to ensure the implementation of the quota for the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector; the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to ensure that the 3% disability employment target for public services is met. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 provides for a statutory target, currently set at 3%, for the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector. Part 5 also provides a framework for monitoring the employment target in all public bodies by committees under the aegis of relevant Ministers of the Government. Under the Act, public bodies are required by 31 March each year to submit reports to monitoring committees on their compliance with the target; the monitoring committees are required to report on such compliance by 30 June each year to the relevant Minister and the National Disability Authority (NDA). The Department of Finance is responsible for monitoring the target in relation to all Government Departments and public bodies whose staff are civil servants. In the case of other public bodies the target is monitored by the parent Department. The NDA has an overall monitoring and reporting role under the Act. Last year the NDA prepared its first report under Part 5 of the Act on the employment position in 2006. This report was submitted to the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability and Mental Health, Dr. Jimmy Devins, T.D. who arranged for submission of it to the Government. The report was published by the NDA on 4 January 2008. The outturn figure of 5.3% was based on a staff census return rate of 45%. Following the first year of reporting under the Act, the process was reviewed by the NDA in consultation with my Department and other Government Departments, and revised reporting formats have been agreed and are currently being used to gather 2007 data. 2007 data relating to public bodies is to be submitted to Ministers and the NDA by 30 June2008. The NDA is then due to submit the second statutory report on the 3% employment target to the Minister of State by 30 November 2008 and that report will be forwarded to the Oireachtas library. Deputy Róisín Shortall (L): asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to provide funding to local authorities for the provision of specialised housing units for older people which is both affordable and appropriate to their housing needs. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L):asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to reform the disabled person’s grant scheme to improve equity and targeting and to ensure that when work is completed under the scheme, the house will be lifetime adapted for the disabled person; the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to examine ways of assisting those needing to change housing because of care or disability needs. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The Government has undertaken a broad range of actions as part of a strategic response to enhance the range of housing supports and services available to the disadvantaged and vulnerable in our society, including people with a disability and older people. These actions range from the introduction of better-targeted financial supports to the development of inter-agency protocols to ensure coordinated service delivery at local level where there is a care dimension in association with meeting housing need. My Department operates a number of dedicated grant schemes designed to assist people with a disability with their accommodation needs. The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability Scheme has replaced the old Disabled Persons Grant Scheme. The scheme is administered by local authorities, and assists in the provision/adaptation of accommodation to meet the specific needs of people with a disability. The types of works grant aided under the Scheme are varied and may include the provision of access ramps, grab rails, downstairs toilet facilities, stair-lifts, accessible showers, adaptations to facilitate wheelchair access, extensions etc. People with a disability may also apply for grant aid under the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme. The Scheme, which is also administered by local authorities, provides grants to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems. The Scheme fast tracks grant aid to people on lower incomes, and the types of works grant aided under the Scheme may include grab-rails, access ramps, level access showers and stair-lifts. These schemes were introduced on 1 November 2007 following a review of the operation of the Disabled Persons Grant Scheme. To ensure the effective coordination of services provided by housing authorities and the Health Service Executive (HSE), my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, has also developed a protocol to govern arrangements for interagency co-operation in service delivery for people with a disability, who have been identified by the HSE under the Assessment of Need process consistent with Section 8 of the Disability Act 2005. This protocol currently applies in respect of children aged under 5 years and will be rolled out in tandem with the extension of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 to all age groups. A protocol to govern funding arrangements between the HSE and the Housing Authorities in relation to the provision of funding by the HSE for ongoing support costs, where necessary, for social housing projects provided by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector for people with a disability is currently being finalised. My Department is also responsible for the development of a national housing strategy for people with a disability, as set out in the Government’s Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, and in line with a commitment under Towards 2016. Work on this strategy, which will have particular regard to the needs of adults with significant disabilities and people who experience mental health issues, has commenced, under the remit of a National Advisory Group, and will be progressed with a view to completion in 2009. The range of housing options and related supports available to people with a disability will be examined further in that context. In relation to the specific accommodation needs of older people, these can be directly met through a wide range of available supports including local authority housing and voluntary and cooperative housing. In addition, a cross-departmental team on sheltered housing, also chaired by my Department, was established last year to develop and oversee policy and to agree, as a priority, local structures and protocols for integrated management and delivery of housing and related care services. The work of this group will ultimately feed into the new National Positive Ageing Strategy, outlined in the Programme for Government. In addition, the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, also introduced in November 2007, aims to provide targeted support to assist older people in carrying out necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. In the context of Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, my Department continues to keep the matter of financial contribution schemes, whereby private housing is part-exchanged for social rented accommodation appropriate for older people, under review. Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to make public buildings, footpaths, parks, information and services more accessible to people with disabilities, with real targets set and achieved. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): My Department’s Sectoral Plan, as provided for in section 31 of the Disability Act 2005, was developed in consultation with people with disabilities to assist the Department and local authorities in supporting an inclusive society with accessible buildings, facilities, services and information. There are statutory provisions, codes of practice and guidelines available to assist local authorities in providing the measures required in the Sectoral Plan. Following the completion of accessibility audits, local authorities are required to draw up implementation plans setting out programmes to give effect to the commitments and objectives contained in the Disability Act and the related Sectoral Plan. Each implementation plan will be published and placed on the authority’s website and is required to contain targets and timeframes for carrying out the required works. Priority will be given to local authority buildings and other facilities to which people with disabilities most frequently require access, including footpaths, public amenity areas, information and other services. My Department provides €15 million annually to local authorities to assist them in carrying out actions under the National Disability Strategy. While information on a national scale is not available, local authorities are required to include the progress they have made in implementing the Sectoral Plan in their annual reports.
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Inclusion
Ireland, Unit C2, The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Tel: 01 8559891 Fax: 01 8559904 Email: info@inclusionireland.ie |