New arrangements for providing services for people with disabilities should become operational in the new year, according to the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Ms Mary Wallace told a SIPTU conference yesterday on training and employment for people with disabilities she hoped this would be in place early next year.
She said that under the new arrangements responsibility for vocational training and employment services would transfer to FAS. The Department of Health and Children would continue to be responsible for the provision of non-vocational work and training and these services would continue to be provided through the health boards and voluntary bodies.
In addition, a new information, advice and advocacy service, Comhairle, will be established under the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The National Social Service Board will be absorbed into that.
A further body, the National Disability Authority, which will provide a focus for the development of disability policy and programmes, is being established under Ms Wallace's Department.
Mr Tom Rowan of SIPTU, who represents the 40 advisers currently working with the National Rehabilitation Board, which will disappear under the new arrangements, said the proposals would create a two-tier system of service delivery. The majority of the advisers will go to FAS.
The division of people into two categories for work and training purposes would involve the weaker section of people with disabilities being dealt with by the Department of Health and Children and the more able being dealt with by FAS, he said.
Ms Elaine Shields, of the Irish Council of People with Disabilities, also stressed that all training and employment services for the disabled should be under one agency, and warned against FAS "farming out" these services to other bodies.