Ministerial responsibility for handicapped services
Horgan asks whether a minister should have responsibility for services for people with disabilities. The Taoiseach says services span several departments, with the Health Minister mainly responsible and the National Rehabilitation Board coordinating them.
asked the Taoiseach if he will appoint a Minister for the handicapped; or allocate specific responsibilities for providing facilities for the handicapped to any existing Minister of State; and, if so, the Minister or Minister of State he proposes to designate in this regard.
Comment on this
The National Rehabilitation Board play a general co-ordinating role in relation to the provision of services for the handicapped by a number of Departments.
It would hardly be practicable, even if it was considered desirable, to bring all of those services under a single Minister or Minister of State.
Comment on this
Is the Taoiseach saying it is not desirable that a Minister should have political responsibility, as opposed to administrative responsibility, for effecting the greatest possible help for the handicapped in our society?
Comment on this
I did not say that it was not desirable; I said it would hardly be practicable. The Minister for Health exercises in the main the functions relating to handicapped persons but other Departments are involved as well. The National Rehabilitation Board are doing a very good job in co-ordinating all these services.