Naalakkersuisoq for health and persons with disabilities, Anna Wangenheim (D), has introduced a bill on support for persons with disabilities at this fall session.
The proposal contains, among other things, new support options, better case processing, increased focus on prevention, the possibility of looking after relatives, better transition from youth to adulthood and strengthened rights to visiting trips.
Naalakkersuisoq for health and persons with disabilities, Anna Wangenheim (D), has introduced a bill on support for persons with disabilities at this fall session.
The proposal contains, among other things, new support options, better case processing, increased focus on prevention, the possibility of looking after relatives, better transition from youth to adulthood and strengthened rights to visiting trips.
And while the country’s municipalities support the ambitions for better rights for people with disabilities, there is clear skepticism about the funding.
This is evident from the municipalities’ response to the consultation.
The municipalities fear that the real additional expenses will be significantly higher than Naalakkersuisut’s calculations.
Not enough funding for early intervention
The bill strengthens the municipalities’ obligation to initiate early and preventive action, so that the problem is discovered and dealt with before it develops or worsens. The municipalities must, among other things, offer outreach advice to people with disabilities and their families.
Avannaata Kommunia writes in their response to the consultation that the earmarked grant of two million kroner, which corresponds to four advisers spread over five municipalities, is not sufficient.
“There is generally a lack of a better connection between the proposed tasks and the associated funding.”
Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq also criticizes the economy. In their consultation response, it appears that a number of new tasks have not been sufficiently funded and that the calculations do not take into account increasing needs.
They point out that the early intervention tasks can potentially be very costly, especially due to the geography.
“A total of DKK 2 million per year has been allocated to the municipalities for the effort. The municipality considers that the estimate is too low to lift the effort imposed on the municipalities. An estimate will be additional expenses in Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq alone amounting to DKK 2-3 million annually,” writes Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq.
Municipality Qeqertalik and Qeqqata Kommunia also point out a lack of funding in their consultation response, while it is less prominent in Municipality Kujalleq’s consultation response.
The municipalities pay
The proposal has already been debated in Inatsisartut 25 September. The second reading has been postponed, and no date has yet been given, but after the first reading the item has been passed by the Family and Health Committee, which has come up with a report.
A majority of the committee recommends the proposal for adoption, but requests that it be referred back to the committee before the third reading, so that they can deal with an expected amendment from Naalakkersuisut.
However, Naleraq writes in a minority statement that they support the bill’s purpose of strengthening the rights of people with disabilities, but are concerned that insufficient funding could force the municipalities to their knees.
Anna Wangenheim has posted her response note to the second reading on Inatsisartut’s website, where it appears that almost half a billion kroner has already been incorporated into the municipal block grant, which relates to disability care.
“However, there is uncertainty about the calculation of the financial expenses in the field of disability, which is primarily due to the great scarcity of disability data, which was already problematic,” she writes.
In a written response to the committee, naalakkersuisoq for persons with disabilities has also written that regardless of the actual financial consequences of the bill, it is the municipalities that bear the financial costs of disability care.
Geographical inequalities and unclear division of responsibilities
The municipalities also point out a number of other challenges to the bill, including a lack of qualified staff.
New requirements for case processing, advice and support may be difficult to implement with the current staffing.
They also point to geographical inequalities. Large distances and limited access to specialists make it difficult to secure the same offer throughout the country.
Furthermore, they want a clearer division of responsibilities. Several municipalities are demanding clearer boundaries between the disability area, the healthcare system, the elderly area and the children’s area.
The municipalities also want clearer instructions, better IT systems, skills development and more time to implement the law.
The bill states that it will enter into force on 1 January 2027.
