Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1406. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost of bringing spending on disabilities up to the European Union average of 2% of GDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41501/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities in Ireland, in line with Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in March 2018. As Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, I will continue to work towards delivering improved disability services that promote independence and inclusion and to strengthening the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland.
Ireland’s approach to implementing the UNCRPD is one of progressive realisation, with obligations from the Convention being met over time. Emphasis is also placed on ensuring that a disability perspective is integrated into mainstream expenditure, policy development and service delivery.
All Government Departments and all Agencies have a role to play in implementing the UNCRPD and as such, disability related expenditure is incurred on a Government-wide basis. According to the IGEES Spending Review 2021, an estimated €7.1 billion was spent across the public sector on disability and special education related supports in 2020 (excluding disability related tax measures). The highest levels of expenditure were associated with the provision of social protection, health services and special education. Expenditure on disability and special education supports across the State increased by 51% between 2011 and 2020.
Pending the transfer of functions of specialist community-based disability services from the Department of Health to this Department, this Department only has responsibility for a small budget pertaining to the coordination of Ireland’s national disability strategies, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. As such, I would direct the Deputy to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for the most up to date calculations comparing overall spend on disability across the State to GDP.
My Department is acutely aware of the importance of using public funding to improve equality outcomes for people with disabilities. To this end, my officials have been closely involved in the development of the Equality Budgeting Initiative, which is being advanced by DPER and which covers multiple dimensions of equality, including disability. As part of this initiative and in line with international best practice, an EU Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) funded project is currently underway to identify a system of tagging public expenditure against different equality dimensions, including disability. I very much welcome the expected advances in this area which will provide for greater clarity in relation to disability expenditure across the State and allow for a more impact-focused approach to disability expenditure into the future.
