Disability and Human Rights Conference: The Disability Bill published last week fell far short of the expectations of the Disability Legislation Consultation Group, according to Mr Donal Toolan, disability rights activist and a member of the consultation group.
The consultancy group was set up following the withdrawal of the previous Disability Bill, which was opposed by disability activists, so that they could have an input into the drafting of its replacement. After nearly four years, the new Disability Bill was published last week.
"It institutionalises a very dysfunctional system," said Mr Toolan. "There is no accountability to disabled people and their families. The resources are targeted at the service-providers, and it is up to disabled people to jump through a whole lot of hoops to access the services.
"All the appeals take place within the realm of those delivering the service. Saying they [those hearing the appeals] will be independent is not enough. They are paid by the same people.
"There is no trigger mechanism if the needs are not being met, through some form of access to the courts." He said there were certain things in the Disability Bill that were not sought by the consultancy group and which would eat up resources.
"For example, the proposed Centre for Excellence. That is not necessary. What is necessary is for the Government Departments to get on with it and enforce the building regulations, not set up a new entity. What powers will it have to make things happen? "It's already quite clear what needs to take place," Mr Toolan said.