APRIL 30 2008

Parliamentary Questions

• HSE Working Group on Developing Employment Skills
• Assessment of Need Applications for Children under 5
• Director of Personal Advocacy at Citizens Information Board
• Capacity Legislation

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• HSE Working Group on Developing Employment Skills

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made by the Health Service Executive working group, which includes representatives from disability organisations, in developing a framework to support people with disabilities in developing and demonstrating vocational and employment skills;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Jimmy Devins): The Deputy’s 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.

• Assessment of Need Applications for Children under 5

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of applications for an assessment of need that have been received following the commencement of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 for children under five years; the number of same which have been carried out; if service statements have been issued for all those assessed; the number of liaison officers appointed to do same;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Jimmy Devins): 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.

• Director of Personal Advocacy at Citizens Information Board

Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a director has been appointed to the new personal advocacy service provided for under the Citizens Information Act 2007; when this service will begin operating; if the staffing and structures are in place; the amount of money that has been allocated to Comhairle for the development of the service;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Martin Cullen): 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. Funding of €1million was allocated to the Citizens Information Board in 2005 to enable the introduction of the new service, an additional €1.4 million was allocated in 2006 to develop the work further and additional funding of €1.9 million was allocated in 2007 for the development of a personal advocacy service and for the implementation of the Disability Sectoral Plan. An organisational structure has been developed by the Citizens Information Board to meet the needs of the Personal Advocacy Service. Discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and the Citizens Information Board are ongoing in relation to these structures and the additional staffing resources required for the provision of the service. The post of Director of the Personal Advocacy Service was advertised in December 2007 and the Board is currently in the final phases of the recruitment process. It is envisaged that the new service will be up and running in 2008.

• Capacity Legislation

Deputy Dara Calleary (FF): asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to deal with the issues raised by the Mental Capacity and Guardianship Bill 2007.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Mental Capacity and Guardianship Bill 2007, a Private Member’s Bill (Seanad), was withdrawn in response to a commitment by the Government to bring forward its own detailed legislative proposals to give effect to the Law Reform Commission’s recommendations contained in its Report ‘Vulnerable Adults and the Law’. Proposals for a Mental Capacity Bill are at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department in line with a commitment in the Government’s Legislative Programme. The proposed Bill will give effect to the Law Reform Commission’s recommendations and will facilitate ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities insofar as requirements relating to legal capacity are concerned. I expect to be in a position to announce the details of the Bill in the near future, subject to the approval of Government.

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