Introduction
I am very glad to be here today to launch the National Disability Strategy.
This Strategy is a very significant milestone. It shows clearly our intention to put a programme of action in place to support and reinforce equal participation in society by people with disabilities. Importantly, it also honours the commitment in the Programme for Government to bring forward a Disability Bill.
National Disability Strategy
The Strategy being announced today has a number of key elements. These are:
- the Disability Bill, 2004;
- the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill, 2004;
- Six Outline Sectoral Plans; and
- a commitment to a multi-annual Investment Programme for Disability Support Services.
We already have the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004 in place. In addition, the Strategy builds on the strong equality framework of the Employment Equality Act, 1998; the Equal Status Act, 2000; the Equality Act, 2004; and the progress that has been made in mainstreaming services for people with disabilities.
I have consistently said that the Governments overall objective is to put in place the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional arrangements and services to support and reinforce equal participation for people with disabilities. We want public policy for the future to be based on an understanding of disability that is described as the move from the medical model of disability to a social model. This will encompass a series of actions which involves:
laws to protect against discrimination, but also the provision of services and supports to make inclusion and participation a reality;
ensuring that people with disabilities are not excluded from educational, employment and social activities by attitudes and procedures that we now consider unacceptable;
recognising that many impairments were turned into disabilities by a physical environment that was not accessible;
maximising independence and self-reliance; and
integration in the mainstream wherever possible, and minimum segregation where necessary.
Reflecting this new understanding, the Government is committed to removing as many obstacles as possible and to providing high-quality services and supports to people with disabilities.
The Disability Bill
The Disability Bill itself is the central element in the Strategy. It contains a number of new and important provisions.
It establishes a right to an Assessment of Need for Health and Education and an entitlement to the services to be set out in a related Service Statement. It puts in place a statute based framework that will establish service needs, highlight gaps in existing services, set clear standards for service provision and make sure that people get the services committed to in the Service Statement. There are complaints and appeals procedures if entitlements are not delivered. Public bodies will be required to make their buildings and services accessible to people with disabilities and to integrate disability service provision with mainstream services. Sectoral Plans for key sectors will ensure that access for people with disabilities will become an integral part of planning and service provision.
In addition to the main provisions set out above, I want to emphasise that there will be an explicit requirement that Ministers must budget effectively to respond to the financial demands arising from the Bill, while taking account of their other responsibilities. There will be a complaints and appeals system where the Independent Appeals Officers decision is final and may only be appealed on a point of law.
Sectoral Plans
Sectoral Plans must be prepared for key service sectors by the Ministers for Health and Children; Social and Family Affairs; Transport; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The plans will set out service provision for people with disabilities, the measures to facilitate access to these services and the planned improvements. Each Minister must publish the Plan and lay it before the Dáil for approval within a year. This will ensure that Dáil Eireann has a very specific role in overseeing the implementation of these provisions into the future. The Plans are being published today in draft or outline form to allow a period of consultation and discussion before they are finalised.
Comhairle (Amendment) Bill, 2004
The second Bill being published today is the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill, 2004. It provides for the introduction of a personal advocacy service, to be administered by Comhairle, specifically for people with disabilities. The intention is to provide a personal advocate to a person with a disability who is unable to obtain, or has difficulty obtaining, a social service without assistance or support.
Investment Package to Support Implementation
This year, some €2.5 billion, representing almost 7% of gross current public expenditure on services, is provided for disability specific services. These figures do not take account of the income support and other services provided through the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Nor do they take account of the fact that many people with a disability participate in, or benefit from, mainstream public service programmes and services
Our objective is to build on this to ensure that people with disabilities get the services set out in the Service Statement. The legislation provides a new system which will ensure that we have formal and reliable ways of identifying needs, gaps and service demands and, therefore, a clear context and focus for future policy development and funding decisions.
Our commitment to make this work will be underpinned by increased investment in a systematic way over a number of years. We will build on the successful experience of the three-year, multi-annual capital investment programme put in place by the Government in 2000. This provided services for persons with an intellectual disability and autism. That programme gave an assurance that the necessary investment would be made to deliver a high level of service and to respond to identified needs. Today we are giving a clear commitment to putting in place financial arrangements that will give the same level of assurance in the case of both capital and current funding.
A multi-annual capital investment programme
A multi-annual capital investment programme for disability-specific services will be developed within the overall system of five-year, multi-annual capital envelopes that was introduced in Budget 2004.
This was a major change in the treatment of capital spending. It provided for a rolling investment programme and a structured and planned approach to capital spending. These envelopes are to be reviewed and rolled forward by the Minister for Finance in the forthcoming Estimates and Budget. Decisions in relation to the investment programme for disability-specific services will be announced as part of that process.
A multi-annual funding package for current expenditure
At present, current funding to run all Government services is allocated on a year-to-year basis, taking into account existing commitments and expected revenue. The Government has now decided on a new approach to current funding in the case of disability support services. A multi-annual funding package for current expenditure on high priority disability support services will be settled within the Estimates and Budget process, which is now getting underway. This is the first time that Government has adopted this approach in the case of current spending on services. This new approach shows the Government's commitment to funding for disability support services and overall to implementing the initiatives announced today.
The details of our financial decisions will be announced as part of the Estimates and Budgetary process.
The Challenge of Implementation
Putting in place the full set of measures, which are being set out in the Strategy will take time. The scope of what we are about is very ambitious. I know that people will understand that these services and supports cannot be put in place overnight. I think that people with disabilities and their families will appreciate that developing the services is one part of what we are trying to do. A second part is changing the way organisations operate, and making sure that they work together for the benefit of all.
I particularly want to thank the Disability Legislation Consultation Group for the knowledge and expertise they brought to the process, and their essential, helpful and critical contribution to the preparation of the Disability Bill itself. I look forward to their considered views on the Strategy. I know that Minister of State ODea plans to meet the Group this afternoon.
We have invested a lot of time over the last number of months in making sure that the measures reflect a proper integrated approach and we will make sure that this continues into the future. The work has been challenging and I think we have a very good outcome and foundation for the coming years.
Todays launch involves seven Ministers with direct responsibility for the measures involved. I think that reflects our determination to move forward across the whole range of public services.
I am also happy to say that Kevin Kelly, Chair of the Interim Health Service Executive, who is here today, has already established a dedicated group within the Interim Health Service Executive to address the transition issues arising in relation to services for people with a disability. This group will now examine the additional steps to be taken to address the requirements arising from the launch of the new Disability Bill. On its formal establishment next January, the Executive will be tasked with ensuring a consistent national approach to the delivery of disability related services, and with ensuring that best practice within existing health service delivery structures is replicated across the country.
As the Bill is a positive action measure, overall responsibility lies with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with the Minister for Health and Children having responsibility for Part 2Assessment of Need, Service Statements and Redress.
Recourse to the Courts
I believe that the initiatives we have announced today achieve the correct balance in ensuring that disability issues, and the development of services for people with disabilities, get consistent and effective attention.
The Governments core social objective is to ensure that people have the resources and opportunities to live life with dignity and have access to the quality public services that underpin life chances and experiences. The emphasis in this legislation is on a clear strategy for service development and putting in place a framework for transparency and clear entitlement.
There are of course divergent views on how social rights for any particular group can be delivered. We acknowledge these differences, but the balanced approach is to avoid simplistic extremes neither to encourage expensive litigation for individuals service needs, nor to rely solely on the routine budgetary process to provide for the needs of those with disabilities.
It is worth bearing in mind the work that has been undertaken on this issue. The NESC has pointed out that a much more productive dialogue on social problems and rights is possible if there is a recognition of the complex issues involved, and an exploration of the relation between rights, public policy and institutions and standards. The ESRI have pointed to the imperative of transparency and entitlement . The Government recognises that Social Service provision involves the allocation of resources, which must be as fair and effective as possible. Such decisions must properly be the responsibility of the Oireachtas, based on best advice and best practice. They must also be based on standards, monitoring, information and awareness, and continuous improvements. Any other approach would involve huge cost for all concerned.
It would favour those with the most resources over people in greater need and, most important of all, still leave us with the task of designing and providing quality services and effective systems.
Moving forward in Partnership
The Government recognises the importance of this agenda and the complexity of the task. We want to move forward. We need to do so in strong partnership with the disability sector and service providers if we are to succeed in this great task.
I believe that the National Disability Strategy, which we are announcing today, gives us a firm foundation on which to build this partnership. Once again, I want to thank all those involved for their enormous contribution to this important policy area.
Thank you.
ENDS