Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
2634. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38546/21]
View answerThere is continuous engagement by my Department with disability representatives on policy matters. The Department of Health’s Disability Consultative Committee meets generally three to four times a year. The Health Service Executive holds regular meetings with disability representatives through its Disability Consultative Forum. These meetings are an opportunity to hear from disability representatives on their priorities for services.
These fora are an integral part of a wider consultative process with disability stakeholders which oversees and monitors the implementation of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, including the Department of Health’s commitments under that strategy. Under my chairmanship, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee, comprising disability representatives from the Disability Stakeholder group and departmental officials meets around three times a year. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy in turn was developed following three separate phases of consultation with disability stakeholders.
The Government welcomes the widespread engagement of disability representative organisations in ongoing discussion of policy and resource matters through channels including those listed above, which ensure the voice of people with disabilities is heard in matters affecting them.
