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Sunday, 15 June 2008 14:15 |
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Finian McGrath has strongly come out against the new disability bill and he urged the government to think again.
McGrath who is a parent of a child with an intellectual disability and a former chairperson of the Dublin Branch of downs Syndrome Ireland outlined his concerns at a national public meeting R.D.S. Concert Hall Tuesday 8th February 200X. He urged the Government to listen to the Disability groups particularly following a positive budget. We can all move forward by listening to each other.
Finian's concerns about the Bill are:
- Finian believes the definitions of disability are too narrow and that the definition excludes episodic conditions and early intervention needs
- The Bill must provide a clear right to an independent assessment of need.
- It must provide for an individual's right to "progressivity" on unmet needs, identified in the independent assessment report. This must be done annually or whenever there is a change of circumstance.
- The complaints system is too complex. It needs to be simplified and made more accessible.
- The appeals system needs to be independent of the Department of Health and Children, perhaps in another Government Department.
- The Bill must provide a clear ring fencing of disability specific resources.
- It must also provide for a clear statutory duty on all government departments and public bodies to include people with disabilities in their plans and services with appropriate monitoring and accountability
- Public services should include all those provided in the public system by statutory or non-statutory entities. The Bill does not take account of the wider needs e.g. the Department of the Environment and local government has not addressed housing needs.
Clarity is needed on the impact of the Disability Bill on Section 14 of the Equal Status Act.
There should be a review of legislation after three years.
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