MAY 14 2008

Dáil Debates

• Order of Business: Mental Health Bill and Capacity Legislation

Parliamentary Questions

• Progress on Carer’s Strategy
• Citizens Information Board Advocacy Service
• Raising Awareness of Advocacy

DÁIL DEBATES

• Order of Business: Mental Health Bill and Capacity Legislation

Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): With 350 people with intellectual disabilities inappropriately placed in mental institutions, I received an assurance from the Minister for Health and Children two years ago that there would be a specific drive to appropriately place these people. Will the Taoiseach take this matter on board? Under the mental health (amendment) Bill, when will this be done and what urgency is attached to it?

The Taoiseach: The mental health (amendment) Bill is not due until next year but the question of taking people with intellectual disabilities out of inappropriate placements in mental hospitals is an issue that continues. Progress has been made and it requires the capital programme for building sheltered housing and facilities.

An Ceann Comhairle: That is not in order.

The Taoiseach: That is ongoing and is not dependent on the enactment of the legislation.

Deputy David Stanton (FG): The issue of the UN convention, raised earlier, is dependent on passing the mental capacity and guardianship Bill. Will the Taoiseach expedite that legislation because we cannot ratify the convention until it is passed? When will that happen? Will the Taoiseach bring forward proposals for Dáil reform from the Government side before the summer recess?

The Taoiseach: The mental capacity and guardianship Bill will be taken later this year. The other issue, which is ongoing, is best taken up with the Chief Whip.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Progress on Carer’s Strategy

Deputy Paul Kehoe (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress to date on the national carers strategy;

Deputy Pat Breen (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consultation that has taken place to date on the national carers strategy; when the national carers strategy will be published;

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 met on three occasions, 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 the 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 government departments and agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and 9 departments and agencies 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 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. 

• Citizens Information Board Advocacy Service

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on the community and voluntary sector advocacy programme funded through the Citizens Information Board; her plans to further extend the programme’s coverage and guarantee funding on a long term basis;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): In 2004 the Citizens Information Board in preparation for forthcoming legislation commissioned research from Goodbody Economic Consultants on, Developing an Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities. The report which was launched in July 2004 proposed a three-stranded approach:

1. The establishment of a Personal Advocacy Service to be provided directly by the Citizens Information Board in line with the forthcoming legislation.A programme of support for community and voluntary sector advocacy.
2. A Community Visitors Programme for people in long–stay residential centres.

In order to expand advocacy provision for people with disabilities the Citizens Information Board began a process in 2004 of engaging the community and voluntary sector in the provision of advocacy services to people with disabilities and also produced advocacy guidelines to inform and guide organisations in the development of advocacy services. The Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme to-date has developed and funded 47 advocacy projects. The overall focus of the programme is on representative advocacy for people with a disability. The programme includes geographically based projects that cross disability type as well as those focused on a particular disability type. Each of the projects poses different challenges, some requiring more intensive work with smaller caseloads while others have larger caseloads with shorter periods of client contact. External evaluations are being undertaken on a sample of projects, and it is planned to undertake a full evaluation of the entire programme in 2010. It is not anticipated to grow the programme any further at this time. However, a small number of additional projects may be considered if any significant gaps are identified. The outcome of the evaluation will inform the future direction of the programme. 

• Raising Awareness of Advocacy

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she will take to raise awareness and understanding of advocacy among people with disabilities and service providers, in particular the new personal advocacy service which is due to be operational in 2008;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): A key function of the Personal Advocacy Service will be to develop awareness and understanding of advocacy amongst people with disabilities and service providers. This will be done through a range of measures including engaging directly with disability representative groups, service providers and other voluntary and statutory organisations who deal with people with disabilities. The Personal Advocacy Service will also promote its services through professionals such as General Practitioners, Public Health nurses and residential care workers. In addition, family members and the general public will be targeted through general promotions and through the network of Citizen Information Services, which operate at over 250 locations nationwide. The Citizen Information Services also provide advocacy services, within the mainstream context, to members of the public who require additional support to access their rights and entitlements. A considerable amount of work has already been done to generate awareness at local level and within the disability sector by the 47 projects funded under the Citizens Information Board’s Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme. The Personal Advocacy Service will be working in close collaboration with these projects to maximise the resources of both programmes and ensure people with disabilities have access to advocacy services at the most appropriate level to meet their needs. In addition, my Department has an established Disability Consultative Forum which comprises disability groups, service providers and other voluntary and statutory organisations. It meets regularly to discuss issues relevant to people with disabilities. The Forum is an important means of communications to our customers with disabilities on their rights and entitlements, to brief them on developments, listen to their concerns and raise awareness on matters relevant to them, such as the establishment of the Personal Advocacy Service.

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