Towards 2016 - Department of Taoiseach

More documents

Recommendations

Info

32. Older PeoplePensions/Income SupportsIncreases in Budget 2008 brought the rates to €212 for non-contributory payments and €223.30 forcontributory payments.In Budget 2008, there was an increase of €27 per week for State Pension (Contributory), State Pension(Transition) and Invalidity Pension qualified adults aged 66 years of age or over.The Budget also provided for an increase of €9.30 per week for State Pension (Contributory) and StatePension (Transition) qualified adults aged under 66 while State Pension (Non-Contributory) qualifiedadults received an increase of €7.90.Information CampaignA Budget telephone enquiry line operating from 9am to 9pm on the Thursday and Friday followingBudget day, was advertised in national and regional newspapers, providing information on the Budget.Following on the success of the Department of Social and Family Affair’s information stand at theOver 50s Show in the RDS in 2007, an information stand will be provided at the three Over 50s Showsscheduled for 2008.Long-term Care Services for Older PeopleCommunity and Home-Based CareBudget 2008 provided an additional €22m funding for community based service initiatives including:• 360 new Home Care Packages, benefiting an estimated 800 people• Over 200,000 additional Home-Help Hours• Approx. 1,000 additional Day/Respite placesHousing and Accommodation – Older PeopleThe Sustainable Energy Ireland/Combat Poverty Agency action research project, to improve heatingsystems and insulation in selected older private dwellings is a pre- and post-intervention householdsurvey. The pre-intervention survey has been completed and remedial work being carried out is almostcomplete. The post-intervention survey got under way in the last quarter of 2007 and initial results areexpected to be ready by summer 2008.33 People with DisabilitiesThe National Disability Strategy (NDS)A progress report on the implementation of the National Disability Strategy for the period July-December 2007 was discussed at the NDS Stakeholders Monitoring Group meeting on 29 January,2008.Reporting on the statutory requirement of public bodies to meet the 3% employment target for peoplewith disabilities has been completed and was submitted to Government and published on 4 January,2008.The accessibility provisions of the Act concerning heritage sites came into operation on 31 December,2007 and the Minister of State has requested the NDA to produce a new Code of Practice in this area.Additional funding of €50m was provided in the Budget for 2008 in respect of the Multi-AnnualInvestment Programme for Disability.13
Protocols Sub GroupA sub-group has been set up for Special Education under the auspices of the Cross Sectoral Team toagree protocols with the D/ES and the NCSE for the referral of children under 5 for educationassessment and to prepare for the commencement of Part 2 of the Act in respect of children aged 5-18to include the following actions:‣ The HSE to scope the current provision of health related supports to school-going children andto endeavour to quantify the demand for further supports‣ Develop a protocol between HSE, D/ES and NCSE to outline how requests for HSE supportshould be made‣ Agreement by the HSE, D/ES and the NCSE of the format of the sections of the IndividualEducation Plan, which are relevant to health related supports‣ D/ES, DOHC, NCSE and the HSE to examine how the IEP process and the assessment of needprocess can be aligned in the best interest of children.Comprehensive Employment StrategyThe Consultative Forum on an Employment Strategy established by the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment are considering key issues relating to the development of an overallemployment strategy. This includes conducting a systematic review of current job retention and returnto work practice following a disability acquired in the workplace. Consultants are currentlyresearching this issue.The operations of the pilot Wage Subsidy Scheme and the FÁS Supported Employment Programme arebeing reviewed by consultants respectively on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade andEmployment and FÁS to determine the potential for increasing their effectiveness.A proposal submitted by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to the ESF for a cross-agencyprogramme to develop and assess new approaches to promoting participation in the economy on thepart of people with disabilities has been accepted. The initiative will concentrate on people withdisabilities who are of working age and in receipt of a social welfare disability payment but who arenot progressing into or within employment, accessing training, education or other progressionopportunities.WorkwayFÁS has developed a Training Plan and Training Programme Specification for a jobseekers module forpeople with disabilities based on Workway's 'A Guide for Jobseekers with Disabilities'. This has beenpilot tested as part of an initiative with Clare Supported Employment Services and was completed inSeptember 2007. The module has been evaluated and FETAC certification is now being investigated.The focus of this module will to be to develop, strengthen and/or enhance the employability skills ofdisabled job-seekers.Vocational Training & Employment ServicesFÁS have established a working group to oversee the implementation of the recommendations relatingto vocational training provision as set out in the consultancy Study of Efficiency and Effectiveness ofVocational Training Services for People with Disabilities provided by Specialist Training Providers.Department of Health and Children Sectoral PlanThe Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive have undertaken the first ofthree annual reviews of progress on the Sectoral Plan. Further targets have been identified, specificallyin relation to planning for the commencement of the Act for 5-18 year olds and adults. This includeswork with the Health Services Executive, the Department of Education and Science and the NationalCouncil for Special Education and other relevant stakeholders. The Review was published in December2007.Department of Social and Family Affairs Sectoral PlanBudget 2008 maintained progress towards the commitments entered into by Government in the area ofincome support by increasing the rates of payment to people with disabilities by €12, approx. 6.5%.14
Page 1 and 2: Towards 2016Ten-Year FrameworkSocia
Page 3 and 4: New R&D FundIn January 2008, Minist
Page 5 and 6: Energy PolicyNational Energy Effici
Page 7 and 8: National Sports MuseumThe National
Page 9 and 10: CHAPTER 111 - The Lifecycle Framewo
Page 11 and 12: Establishment of the New Irish Yout
Page 13: From April 2008 any amount of Carer
Page 17: Social Inclusion UnitsIn July 2007,

Towards 2016 - Department of Taoiseach

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?