Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit undertake disability impact assessments; the process by which these assessments are monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34880/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware disability proofing is mandatory in respect of all substantive proposals requiring Government approval.
The procedures to be followed by all Departments, including my own, in submitting such proposals to government are set out in the Cabinet Handbook, an internal Government guide to assist Ministers and officials in the preparation of matters to be dealt with at Government meetings in accordance with the principles of collective responsibility. Among the requirements set out in the Cabinet Handbook is the requirement that all substantive Memoranda should indicate the impact on people with disabilities.
The Department of Justice and Equality, the Equality Authority and the National Disability Authority have published Guidelines for conducting a Disability Impact Assessment (http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB12000078) to assist officials in Government Departments who are carrying out disability proofing of memoranda for submission to the Government.
