Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
436. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that 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). [38738/22]
View answerMy Department has put in place a Disability Consultative Committee as mandated under Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. The Committee held its most recent meeting in late May 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for early September 2022.
The committee consists of nominees from the Disability Stakeholders Group, a number of sections within my Department who have responsibility for policies regarding persons with disabilities and representatives from the following organisations: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), National Disability Authority (NDA), Higher Education Authority (HEA), Grangegorman Development Agency (GGDA), SOLAS and Leargas. It is chaired by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion section of my Department.
Separately, I have ongoing engagement with a recently established Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee (DPAC). The DPAC is a group of disabled postgraduate students and academics who have an in-depth knowledge and lived experience of our higher education system and the potential barriers that people with disabilities can encounter.
Students with disabilities are a key target group within the National Access Plan and disability organisations are represented on the National Access Plan Steering Committee. An Equity of Access subcommittee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance will be established shortly to ensure that the voice of under-represented groups, including persons with disabilities are heard.
My Department is also represented on a number of cross-departmental strategies for peoples with disabilities including, inter alia, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities Implementation Group.
