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Rights of People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020

Thursday, 3 December 2020

Questions (262, 263, 264)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to monitor the disability sector with a view to ensuring the removal of arbitrary obstacles deemed to impact on persons with disabilities such as access to jobs, services or housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40995/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his priorities to support persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40996/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he has identified his priorities in respect of the disability sector over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40997/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is our key framework for policy and action in this regard. The NDIS takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities and creating the best possible opportunities for people them to fulfill their potential. The NDIS Steering Group oversees the implementation of the Strategy. The Group is chaired by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D., and meets quarterly. It includes representatives of Government Departments, the National Disability Authority and members of the Disability Stakeholder Group.

A mid-term review of the NDIS was published earlier this year. This was completed following consultation with disability stakeholders, relevant departments and agencies. Stakeholders indicated that they want to see the focus for the next years on implementing existing commitments in the Strategy. They are particularly interested in the implementation of the obligations that arise from Ireland’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Advancing the implementation of the UN Convention will be a priority. Our approach to meeting the obligations of the Convention is one of progressive realisation, each year moving forward on key reforms. The important steps in implementing the Convention are to commence the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act, 2015, to enact the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and to enable the Decision Support Service (DSS) to become operational. These reforms will expand the rights in particular of those with capacity difficulties. I am pleased to have secured an increased budget of €5.8m for the DSS for 2021 which will enable it to open for business in 2022 as agreed.

Ireland will submit its initial State Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities shortly. A consultation process to inform that Report is being launched today by my colleague Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D. As we continue to advance the implementation of the Convention, it is absolutely vital that Government hears the voices of people with lived experience of disability. The experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities are essential to the development of policies and programmes that meet their needs effectively. That is why we are providing Government funding to establish a Disability Participation and Consultation Network as one of the actions to fulfil the Convention. The aim of the Network is to provide a new opportunity for persons with disabilities to be involved in the development of policy and legislation. One of the Network’s first tasks will be to bring the voices of people with disabilities into consultations on Ireland’s first State Report to the UN on our progress in implementing the Convention.

The third strategic priority for the Government in the area of disability is the continued implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024). The CES sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to, and want to work, are supported and enabled to do so.

The Government is also committed to improving the services provided to people with disabilities. Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of investment in disability services, with the investment of €100m for new initiatives in 2021. In addition to the funding announced for 2021, €20 million once off funding in 2020, has been made available for disability voluntary service providers engaged in the HSE Transforming Lives Reform programme. The increased level of funding in 2021 will enable us to build on initiatives currently underway. Funding will be targeted at five key areas: children’s services, day services, community supports, residential services, and disability integration.

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