The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, has announced details of the Government's planned Disability Bill.
Speaking at the Youth - Beyond Disability International Conferencein Dublin Castle today, Mer McDowell said the bill would be published "at the earliest opportunity."
He said it would differ from the Bill that was published in 2002 and subsequently withdrawn. He said the new legislation would improve on the areas of assessment of needs and independent redress.
Mr McDowell said the process of assessment of needs would now be an independent process and that a body would be established which will set the standards for assessment and provide training for those who are responsible for assessing needs.
Regarding redress, he said the Government intends to provide a system, which excludes Courts and lawyers from assessment, but which would ensure that whatever determinations are made would be enforceable.
To this end "independent appeals officers" would be appointed and they would have the force of law.
A process of appeal would be introduced whereby an appointed "deciding officer" would deal with each individual request.
If the person is unhappy with the result, the case could then be brought before an independent appeals officer. If this fails, either the appeals officer or the individual concerned could go to court.
Mr McDowell said the new legislation "will create an impetus towards more public spending in this area" but that "this is a process that will develop over time and everything will not, indeed could not, be delivered instantly."
Minister McDowell said the Government intends to publish the legislation by the end of the year.