Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
476. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his response to the appeal by nine leading disability organisations issued on 17 September 2012 calling on him to show leadership on an implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy in keeping with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [48969/12]
View answerThe National Disability Strategy was launched in September 2004 and its implementation continues to be the focus of Government policy for the sector. However, a specific implementation plan for the strategy had not previously been developed. This Government is now addressing this.
The Programme for Government states that “the Government will publish, following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable timescales and targets within available resources and ensure whole of government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector”. I have established and am personally chairing a new group to develop a realistic implementation plan for progressing the Strategy, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The new Group has replaced the previous National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group while maintaining the cross-departmental focus and the collaboration with stakeholders. The National Disability Strategy Implementation Group comprises representatives from across Government, a representative from the City and County Managers Association, the National Disability Authority, a broad range of disability organisations, and a number of individuals appointed in their personal capacity to bring their lived experience to the table.
The aim of the Implementation Plan is, through engaging with the disability sector and building on the traditional problem-solving and constructive approach of the community and voluntary sector, to make progress to achieve our common interests. More targeted, innovative and flexible services, designed and delivered on the basis of the evidence drawn from systematic evaluation will help ensure that available resources, which are of course diminished across Government due to the current economic climate, are used to deliver services that meet the needs of the community as efficiently and effectively as possible. This Implementation Plan will seek to ensure these resources are used as effectively as possible in ensuring that the living standards and access to essential services for people with disabilities are maintained.
The Implementation Plan is developing well with the identification by Departments of actions, timelines and Key Performance Indicators. Discussions are ongoing between the Disability Stakeholders Group and Government Departments in an effort to reach agreement on the suite of actions contained in the Plan. At the most recent meeting of the Implementation Group on the 1st of November it was agreed that every effort will be made to finalise the Plan at the next meeting of the Group which will be held in Quarter 1 of 2013. Once agreed, the Plan will be published as soon as possible thereafter.
The National Disability Authority is helping Departments in setting performance indicators and outcomes for the Plan’s targets and have held one-on-one meetings with Departments to assist them in identifying actions to be included in the Implementation Plan. Work by the Authority in relation to Disability Indicators is also at an advanced stage and will be signed off by the Senior Official’s Group and the Disability Stakeholder Group shortly. These indicators will allow real measurement of how the actions contained in the plan translate into improved quality of life for people with disabilities.
As part of the process of developing the Implementation Plan, the identification and recording of actions which will be required in order to ensure that Ireland will be in compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities when ratification takes place is also being undertaken. Each action in the Plan will be linked to the Article of the Convention and obligations therein which will be met through implementation of that action.
Outside of the Implementation Group, I also convened a Disability Forum, under the stewardship of the National Disability Authority, to ensure the voices of people with disabilities, their needs and concerns are being heard. The first meeting of the Disability Forum, which was attended by over 300 people with disabilities, their carers, and family members was held on the 19th of June this year and a report of the views expressed will be published shortly. This report will form part of the considerations of the Implementation Group in relation to actions in the Implementation Plan.
