People with Disabilities in Ireland > News and Publications

MINISTER CALLS FOR RATIONALISATION AND CO-ORDINATION OF THE DISABILITY SECTOR

Saturday 29th April 2006.

Rationalisation and greater co-ordination of the disability sector is needed to derive better results for the 400,000 people with disabilities in Ireland, according to Mr Frank Fahey TD, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with special responsibility for Equality and Disability.

Speaking at the national board meeting of People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI), the umbrella body representing all people with disabilities, being held in the Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway today, he said:

“There are 507 different disability organisations, leading to dissipation and much duplication of effort. That is not good for people with disabilities both in terms of services and in terms of representing the voice of people with disabilities to Government and the public service.

“Therefore, I am going to make available part of a new €6 million Enhancing Disability Services Project fund to aid the effort of co-ordination with a view to strengthening the sector,” he said.

The Minister said that he was specifically inviting the sector to bring forward innovative proposals under this programme to support once-off projects which demonstrate efficient, collaborative and cost effective approaches.

“PwDI has a good track record in this area and is ideally placed to play a lead role in this effort, being an umbrella body, structured from the bottom up with a county by county network throughout the country.

“There is a recognition that State services must also be delivered in a more co-ordinated fashion and this issue is now being addressed by the HSE.

“The Government is determined to see state services that are person centred rather than system centred.

“A better co-ordinated disability sector is needed to ensure that that becomes a reality sooner rather than later,” said the Minister.

Responding to the Minister’s comments Michael Ringrose, Chief Executive of PwDI said:

“We warmly welcome the Minister’s comments. This is an excellent initiative. PwDI is ready and willing to take up the Minister’s challenge.

“We saw just how effective the disability sector can be when it came together in the Disability Legislation and Consultation Group (DLCG).

Ends

Further information:

Frank Fahey 087-6976888

Mairead Foley 086 – 2556764

<< Previous Press Release |Next Press Release >> | Back to index