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Dáil Debates & Questions
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October 14 2008
Dáil Debates Parliamentary Questions
DÁIL DEBATES Deputy Kathleen Lynch (L): The last list of legislation contained the mental capacity Bill, which was to allow people with an intellectual disability to give evidence in court cases where they are the victim. It seems to have slipped off the list and I wonder whether it will be dealt with at all. It is urgent. The Taoiseach (Brian Cowen TD): It is more than likely that it will be the middle of next year before that Bill will be taken. PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people with disabilities who have availed of community and voluntary organisations advocacy services funded by the Citizens Information Board in 2005, 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; the number of projects operational and the geographical area covered by them; the number of people accessing these services; Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): 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. It also produced advocacy guidelines to inform and guide organisations in the development of advocacy services. The Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme has to date developed and funded 46 advocacy projects. Each Advocacy project has a Steering Group and reports twice yearly to the Citizens Information Board, with the latest report covering the period up to the end of June 2008. Up to the end of June 2008, 3,241 members of the public have availed of the services provided by the projects. The breakdown per year is as follows: • 2005 — Nil • 2006 — 744 • 2007 — 1,322 • June 2008 (6 months) — 1,175 It takes a number of months, from the date of first funding, for projects to set up, recruit and train an advocate and begin seeing clients. Geographically, the advocacy projects are spread across the country with 16 projects located in the Greater Dublin area (including Wicklow and Kildare), 6 in the Cork-Kerry area, 5 in the Limerick-Clare area, 6 in the West and North West, 4 in the South East, 5 in the Midlands and 4 in the North Eastern area. A list of the projects is contained in the following appendix. The overall focus of the programme is on representative advocacy for people with a disability. Projects are either cross disability type with a geographic remit, or 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. Appendix: Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme — list of projects Projects:
The Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Association (BRI) is based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire. In conjunction with Dun Laoghaire Citizens Information Centre the advocate works with people with acquired brain injury.
The Alzheimer Society works on behalf of people with different types of dementia. The service works with people with dementia in the north Dublin area.
The advocacy service is based in Ballyfermot Citizen’s Information Service and provides a service to people with a range of disabilities living in the Ballyfermot area.
Ballyhoura Advocacy Service is available to people with disabilities, residing in the East and South Limerick/North East Cork region.
The advocacy project is based in Blanchardstown Area Partnership, the independent advocate is employed by Blanchardstown Area Partnership and works with residents of the Daughters of Charity Services in Navan Road.
Bray Partnership is a local development company which works with the Bray Disability Cluster group. The advocate is employed by Bray Partnership and works with people with disabilities in the bray area.
This project recruits, trains and supports volunteer Citizen Advocates who work one to one with residents of Limerick Brothers of Charity services.
This project is working in three Cheshire Ireland residences, Cara, Barrett and Richmond, to prepare staff and residents and to recruit, train and support Citizen Advocate volunteers who are matched with individual residents and work with them long term.
Clare Citizen Information Service provides an advocacy service to people with intellectual disabilities who access services from the Brothers of Charity and who live in the community in Co Clare.
The Clondalkin Advocacy Service is an independent professional advocacy service in the Clondalkin/Lucan area for people with disabilities, targeting those who are marginalised and vulnerable.
Based in Clondalkin Citizens Information Service, this independent advocacy service works with residents with intellectual disabilities in Peamount Hospital, Newcastle, Dublin.
Cork City Centre & South County Citizens Information Service employs an advocate who provides independent advocacy to people with physical and sensory disabilities within and outside Enable and Cheshire services in the Cork area.
County Monaghan Partnership employs an advocate who works with people with a range of disabilities in Co. Monaghan.
This project provides a one to one advocacy service for people with disabilities in the North Cork area (Mallow and Fermoy).
Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living and project partner Blanchardstown/Dublin 15 CIC provides an advocacy service for people with disabilities in the South Fingal area.
DESSA’s partners are the Family Support Agency and St Brigid’s Family Resource Centre Waterford. This project offers representative advocacy to people with disabilities in the Waterford area through the Family Resource Centre model.
In partnership with NCBI and the Clare Network of People with Disabilities, Disabled People of Clare employs an advocate who provides representative, independent advocacy to people with disabilities in Clare.
The consortium is made up of the HSE and many of the disability organisations in the Donegal area. Lead agency is the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). The Consortium provides professional a advocacy service for people with disabilities in Donegal.
A partnership between Dublin 7 Centre for Independent Living, CIL Carmichael House, Dublin Leader Forum and the Macro Resource Centre, the project extends the restricted advocacy services available to CIL members to those with disabilities in residential and family settings.
ASPIRE, Tuiscint, KITE and Gheel are partners in this project which provides a one-to-one, case based advocacy service for people with Aspergers Syndrome, sometimes known as high functioning autism, to help them address their needs.
Galway Centre for Independent Living in conjunction with Enable Ireland, NAD Galway, Brothers of Charity Galway, Galway Citizen’s Information Centre & NUI Galway. The project provides professional advocacy to people with disabilities living in Co. Galway.
Inclusion Ireland employs and advocate who provides an independent advocacy service to people with disabilities in Moore Abbey and St Joseph’s Disability Services in Ita’s, Portrane.
Inclusion Ireland employs and advocate who provides an independent advocacy service to people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour in the Regional Behavioural Support Services in Monaghan, Louth and Meath.
The Wexford IWA project provides a one to one advocacy service for people with disabilities in the Wexford area. Project partners include National Council for the Blind, Wexford Centre for Independent Living and the Carnew Centre.
Led by Co Leitrim CIS in conjunction with Leitrim Association of People with Disabilities and others, this project provides a service to people with disabilities in Co. Leitrim.
This project is based in Longford Citizens Information Service. It includes a large number of project partners and works with people with disabilities in the Longford area.
This project is based in Mayo Citizens Information Service. Partners include NLN, CIL, HSE and the Western Care Association. The project works with people with disabilities in the community.
MIDWAY and partners Enable Ireland & EVE Holdings provide an independent advocacy service targeting adults with disabilities living in various settings throughout Co. Meath.
The MS Society of Ireland advocacy project provides an independent advocacy service to clients with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological disorders in the North East area.
The National Representative Council is the forum for people using NLN services. The project employs two advocates to liaise with existing NLN self-advocacy groups and provide a representative advocacy service to NLN learners.
Based in North Kildare Citizens Information Service in Maynooth CIC, the independent advocate is employed by North Kildare CIS and works with residents(with intellectual disabilities) of St Raphaels Residential Service and Dara Residential in Celbridge.
Co Offaly CIS with partners; CIL, FAS, NAD, NCBI, HSE and others provides an advocacy service for people with a disability living in Co. Offaly.
People with Disabilities in Ireland is a network of national grassroots disability organisations. In partnership with the Midlands HSE the project provides a representative advocacy service for adults with intellectual disabilities living in 2 residential centres in the midlands.
Roscommon Citizens Information Service employs the advocate who works with this project. RAN provides one-to-one independent, representative advocacy, for people with disabilities in Co. Roscommon.
Schizophrenia Ireland and the Irish Advocacy Network support mental health survivors in speaking up for themselves. This project provides an advocacy service for people with mental health issues in the community, particularly those leaving mental health hospitals.
Sliabh Luachra Advocacy Services for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides a professional advocacy service for people with an intellectual disability. Partners include Sliabh Luachra Local Development and Kerry Parents and Friends (Castleisland).
This is a partnership of most of the intellectual disability service providers in Sligo. The project focuses on four groups, including three residential services, all for people with learning disabilities. The advocate is employed by Sligo Citizens Information Service.
Cork Advocacy Service, a development of the Cork Older People’s Advocacy Service, is provided by The Social and Health Education Project in Cork and Kerry. CAS provides an advocacy service for people with physical, sensory and intellectual disability, mental health issues and difficulties associated with ageing in Cork. Partners include the DFI and CIL, Cork.
Centres for Independent Living (CILs) support individuals with disabilities in leading self-determined lives and participating in society. Carlow CIL employs an advocate to work with people with disabilities in the Carlow/Kilkenny area.
STEER is a community-based mental health service user initiative that is a partnership between service users and carers/family members. The project provides a service to mental health service users — those who have been in and out of psychiatric units and are now living in supported accommodation.
Tallaght CIS, St John of Gods Menni services and Firhouse Day Activity Centre have come together to establish a collaborative response to advocacy needs of people with disabilities in the community. The advocacy service works with people with disabilities in the Tallaght area.
Tipperary Town Irish Wheelchair Association, NCBI and North Tipperary Support Services provide an advocacy service to work directly to assist people with disabilities in the Tipperary area and also to represent the interests of groups of people with disabilities.
Waterford Citizens Information Service provides an advocacy service to people with intellectual disabilities who access services from the Brothers of Charity and who live in the community in the Waterford area.
West Limerick CIL acts as a catalyst and an enabler for people with disabilities to live independently in their chosen community. The aim of this advocacy initiative is to provide an advocacy service in Limerick City and county, for people with disabilities living in the community seeking social services.
Westmeath Citizens Information Service, in partnership with the Westmeath Mental Health Advocacy Network provides a mental health advocacy service in Co. Westmeath, initially in Athlone town.
Based in Mental Health Ireland in Cork, the independent advocate is employed by Mental Health Ireland and works with residents of St Raphael’s Residential Service in Youghal. Partners include Ait na nDaoine Community Development Project and Cobh CIC. Deputy Joan Burton (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children if she is responsible for setting the annual budget for services to children with special needs; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): Services for children with special needs are provided by a number of different GovernmentDepartments and agencies. The overall budget for each Department/Agency is determined byGovernment following discussions between the relevant Minister and the Minister for Financeas part of the estimates process. The budget for children with special needs would form partof these discussions in each case.Section 5 of the Disability Act, 2005 deals with the provision of resources for services providedfor people with a disability. Subsection 2 provides that where a Minister proposes orarranges for the provision of such services, the Minister shall allocate out of the moneys availableto him or her for the year such amount as he or she considers appropriate for the provisionof those services. Subsection 4 provides that, in determining the appropriate allocation, theMinister shall ensure that the amount remaining after the allocation is not less than the amountthat is appropriate, having regard, inter alia, to the extent of the Minister’s other obligationsin that year.The Office for Disability & Mental Health supports the Minister of State for Equality, Disability& Mental Health in the exercise of his functions across four Government Departments— Health & Children; Education & Science; Justice, Equality & Law Reform and Enterprise,Trade & Employment. Substantial progress has been made in recent years in the areas ofdisability and mental health, but much remains to be done. In particular, there is a need toimprove co-ordination and communication across different Government Departments andagencies in their delivery of services. This will be the main focus for the Office in the comingmonths.
Deputy Joan Burton (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether there is a lack of demographic and related information on special need prevalence, particularly in view of the broad definition of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): In January 2008 the Government announced the establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health to support the Minister for Disability & Mental Health in exercising responsibilities across four Government Departments: Health & Children, Education & Science, Enterprise, Trade & Employment and Justice, Equality & Law Reform. While substantial progress has been made in recent years in the areas of disability and mental health, much remains to be done. Developing and improving an evidence base is clearly important and in the coming months the Office for Disability and Mental Health will be looking at how we can increase the range and level of information that is available across all relevant areas and how existing information can best be analysed, communicated to those who need it, and effectively applied to inform policies and decisions.
Deputy Joan Burton (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will implement the pre-school provision recommendation 5.2 from the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, to support early intervention for all children with special educational needs; the timeline for this implementation; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Education for People with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 provides a statutory framework for the delivery of educational services to people with special educational needs. Responsibility for implementation of this legislation lies primarily with the Department of Education and Science. The EPSEN Act has not yet been commenced. However, I am not aware of any recommendation in the Act of the kind referred to by the Deputy. If the Deputy can furnish my office with more detail on what she has in mind, I will endeavour to establish the background. Deputy Joan Burton (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will introduce a pilot scheme of pre-school classes for children with Down syndrome, metabolic disorders, and ADHD similar to the pilot project for children with autistic spectrum disorders; the timeline for this implementation; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The guiding principle of mainstreaming public services for people with disabilities was adopted by the government in 2000. The National Disability Strategy and the components contained therein, most notably the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, provide a legal basis for this principle. It is a commonly held view that early educational interventions should, where possible, take place within the existing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) infrastructure. Within these settings, the staff have a critical role in mediating the learning environment and ensuring that there is an appropriate and effective environment for children with differing learning profiles. Consequently, I have no plans to introduce such a separate pilot scheme of the kind suggested.
Deputy Jan O’Sullivan (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive returned unspent funds to the Exchequer at the end of 2007; if so, the amount involved; the reason it was not spent in the health services; Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The final out-turn on Vote expenditure for the Health Service Executive in 2007, shows there was an overall surrender of approximately €39m, after a total out-turn of €11,435,462m. The non capital programme shows a saving of €50m and a further saving of €18m for Appropriations-in-Aid. This was used to offset an overspend of €29m in capital spending. The actual levels of service provided in most areas were in excess of the planned targets for 2007 as set out in the approved National Service Plan. This was particularly the case in the acute hospital sector and the community drugs schemes. At the same time the rate of progress was less than planned in the development of the primary care teams and some developments in mental health services and there was a considerable underspend on the scheme for the repayment of charges for long stay accommodation under Section 13 of the Health (Repayment Scheme) 2006. This resulted in the need for a Supplementary Estimate which in effect did not involve any additional charge on the Exchequer as the increased costs from the higher levels of activity were met from savings in other areas and on the repayments scheme. Deputy Aengus O’Snodaigh (SF): asked the Minister for Health and Children her view on whether in cases of Down’s syndrome, early intervention is crucial to ensure permanent problems are avoided and to ensure the best start possible for the children involved and further to ensure a good grounding is given for a difficult life ahead; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Disability Act 2005 remains one of the central components of the National Disability Strategy. While the legislation was sponsored by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Health and Children, together with the Health Service Executive, are charged with specific statutory duties, most notably concerning the implementation of Part 2 of the Act. As the Deputy is aware, intervention early in life can have a significant impact on the disabling effects of a condition or impairment. In recognition of this, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced for children aged under 5 years with effect from 1 June 2007. This entitles parents of young children with disabilities to an independent assessment of their child’s health and education needs and a statement of the services which it is proposed to provide for them. To date over 2,800 applications for an assessment of need have been received and are being processed by the HSE. It is proposed that Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 will be further commenced for children aged 5 to 18 in tandem with the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. In preparation for its implementation, health related support services for children aged 5 to 18 continue to be enhanced and strengthened to enable the Health Service Executive to meet needs identified for this group. Proposals for implementation are continually under scrutiny and take place in the context of the Annual Estimates process.
Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new agencies created since 1997 to date in 2008; the budget for each in all of those years; and the number of staff employed. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have set out information relevant to the Deputy’s Question, in particular insofar as the current year is concerned. In light of the limited time available for reply and the wide range of organisations in question, it would not be feasible to compile the equivalent figures over a 10 year period without the application of a disproportionate amount of staff time. More detailed information is generally available in the Book of Estimates and in annual and other reports from the organisations in question. It is important to stress that not all the staff positions referred to herein are new. A substantial number were transferred to agencies upon their formation.
Deputy Ruairí Quinn (L): asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports available at second level for pupils experiencing difficulty with literacy and numeracy; the number of support teachers employed at second level providing supplementary literacy and numeracy tuition; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): My Department provides a range of supports to second level schools to enable them cater for pupils with special educational needs. Such supports include remedial and additional teaching support, special needs assistant (SNA) support and funding for the purchase of specialised equipment. As the Deputy is aware, there has been enormous progress made over the past number of years in relation to increasing the number of teachers in our schools who are specifically dedicated to providing education for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). At second level, approximately 2,750 whole time equivalent additional teachers are in place to support pupils with SEN. This compares to the approximately 200 teachers that were in place in 1998 for such pupils. In addition, there are over 560 whole time equivalent learning support teachers and approximately 1,826 whole time equivalent SNAs in our second level schools. My Department supports the education of individual students with SEN in second level schools, including those experiencing difficulty with literacy and numeracy, throughout the country. The precise model of provision made available at second level will depend on the assessed needs of the pupils involved. Some pupils are capable of attending ordinary classes on an integrated basis with additional teacher and/or special needs assistant support. In other cases, placement in special dedicated classes attached to the school may be the more appropriate response. Such special classes operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios. The organisation of such provision is a significant task of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE has taken over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The Council acts under the broad policy direction of my Department but has the resources and the remit to play the leading role in the delivery of education services to children with disabilities/special needs. The NCSE co-ordinates with the health services, schools and other relevant bodies regarding the provision of education and related support services to children with disabilities/special needs. In addition, my Department’s Teacher Education Section has developed a strategy designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of personnel working with children with special educational needs. This involves a major expansion of the range of post-graduate professional training programmes available to teachers in the special needs area and the ongoing development of the Special Education Support Service (SESS) to support schools staff locally. Schools have access to external supports in supporting pupils with SEN such as that offered by the SESS and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Schools will have reference to the guideline document “Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs: Post-Primary Guidelines” produced by my Department which provides practical advice and guidance to schools on the organisation and co-ordination of resources to maximise the support to each individual student. I am confident that the range of supports in place to support pupils experiencing difficulty with literacy and numeracy are of major benefit in ensuring that these pupils receive the support they require. |
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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 |