In an unusual move, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is to pay almost £6 million in grants to support work which is the responsibility of other departments.
The Minister, Mr Dermot Ahern, yesterday declared that the move is part of a policy of "increasing co-operation between Government departments on issues that cut across departmental boundaries."
Almost £5 million is to go to bodies which assist people with disabilities, older people and other disadvantaged groups. Another £1 million will be paid in grants for community and family resource centres.
The £6 million represents savings in social welfare services this year. Mr Ahern said he had asked his department to put together a joint spending package with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health.
Other departments are also being asked to finance services for people with disabilities, the Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms Mary Wallace, said yesterday.
Noting that 11,000 people will benefit from yesterday's package, she added that "I have been having ongoing meetings with all Ministers to see what assistance they can give to fulfil the Government's commitment to people with disabilities."
The Rehab Group yesterday expressed delight with its allocation of £1 million.
"The money is to be used specifically for the purchase of aids and appliances which promote more independent living for people with disabilities," its spokeswoman, Ms Angela Kerins, said.
"Independent living is essential for people with disabilities," she said. "With this grant we can provide equipment for people with disabilities which will enable them to improve their own quality of life."
Grants announced yesterday include:
£903,000 for Cerebral Palsy Ireland.
£470,000 for the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.
£130,000 for the National Council for the Deaf.
£475,000 for the Irish Wheelchair Association.
£500,000 for services for older people.
£50,000 for the Irish Council of People with Disabilities.
The grant for the Irish Council of People with Disabilities will make a dramatic difference to its capacity to campaign on disability issues, its spokeswoman, Ms Frieda Finlay, said last night.
The council has 6,000 members divided into 30 county networks. It has official standing as it was established to promote the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities.
Ms Finlay said the money will be used to provide the networks with computer equipment and training. The ability to communicate with each other and with the council by e-mail will boost the work of the networks, which are currently assessing the accessibility of educational facilities in their areas.
The purpose of the grants announced yesterday was to enable people with disabilities to make their lives as independent as possible, Ms Wallace, who has a responsibility for disability issues as Minister of State, said.
The basic objective of the Government, she said, "is to provide the necessary supports to enable people with disabilities to live in the community with the maximum degree of independence."
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