Holly Cairns
Question:482. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made towards action 104 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. [38043/21]
View answerTuesday, 13 July 2021
Questions (482, 484)
Holly Cairns
Question:484. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made towards action 104 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. [38097/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 484 together.
Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will develop proposals for development of a coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.’
Following the transfer of functions from the Department of Justice and Equality to this Department, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth is now the lead on this action, supported by the National Disability Authority.
In order to progress Action 104 a Transport Working Group was established. The Group’s membership is made up of relevant Government Departments and state agencies including the National Disability Authority and the National Transport Authority. The group met in March 2020 during which draft Terms of Reference and a work plan, including consultation process were discussed for future decision. However, following the emergence of COVID-19 the work of the group was paused to allow officials to focus on responding to the pandemic.
My Department is currently working to re-convene the Transport Working Group in the coming weeks. My Department is also in contact with the Department of Finance with a view to incorporating work planned by that Department in regard to reviewing transport supports for people with disabilities into the work of the NDIS Transport Working Group.