Rehab Welcomes Commencement of Disability Act Provisions
The Rehab Group welcomes today's formal introduction of provisions of the Disability Act 2005 and the appointment of the National Disability Authority Board. The legislation represents the culmination of many years of hard work and co-operation between the Government and the disability sector and is an important milestone on the road to a truly inclusive Ireland.
Measures that come into operation such as the statutory three per cent target for Government departments and public bodies to employ people with disabilities; requirements on access to services and the physical environment and the introduction of sectoral plans by Government Departments will have a tremendous impact on many people's lives.
However, this commencement order does not cover all sections of the Disability Act, such as the key provisions in Part 2 relating to assessment of need, service statements and redress. There is an onus on the Government to announce a timeframe for the implementation of these outstanding measures as a matter of urgency.
Said Rehab Group chief executive, Frank Flannery: 'Whilst this legislation has not won unanimous approval within the disability sector, the Rehab Group would urge everyone involved to pull together to ensure all the provisions of this Act comes into force speedily and in the most effective manner possible.'
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