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Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2014

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Questions (21)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

21. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his priorities for the disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5292/14]

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Written answers

The Government continues to prioritise the needs of people with disabilities. The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in that regard, including the publication of a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy. That Implementation Plan was published in July 2013 and is the first such implementation plan to be put in place since the National Disability Strategy itself was launched in 2004.

The Plan was prepared by the National Disability Strategy Implementation Group, which I established in 2011 and continue to chair in undertaking its current role in overseeing the implementation of the Strategy. The Implementation Group brings together not only representatives of the relevant Government departments and representative organisations but also, recognising the need for the end users of public services to be involved, a number of people with disabilities. This is in order that their concerns and priorities are heard.

The Implementation Plan was developed with the identification by Departments of actions, timelines and key performance indicators. Significant discussion was undertaken between the disability stakeholders and Government departments to reach agreement on the suite of actions contained in the Plan. The Plan sets out the practical measures across all Government departments that will be taken to advance the Strategy and ensure that available resources are used to best effect and that the needs of those we consider a priority continue to be addressed.

Progress on the Plan is kept under review by the Implementation Group and thematic meetings, at which all relevant bodies are present to ensure cross-sectoral input and review, are convened. Two such thematic meetings were held in 2013 and focused on the themes of Housing and Irish Sign Language.

In addition to the ongoing implementation of the actions generally, two initiatives are being progressed in particular. These are the drafting of a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities and a review of the Implementation Plan to examine how it could be used to more fully address the needs of people with autism.

I believe in hearing the voices of those who live with a disability, to understand their concerns and priorities. In addition to appointing a number of people with disabilities to the Implementation Group, I also established a Disability Forum, under the stewardship of the National Disability Authority, to open up discussion to a wider audience and to get a broader representation from those with experience of living with a disability. This makes clear that people with disabilities are a priority and do have my full understanding and respect.

Needless to say, the Government accords no less importance to the needs of people with disabilities as those of children and young people.

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