Sports Facilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 March 2023

Wednesday, 29 March 2023

Questions (139)

Paul Murphy

Question:

139. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will implement legislation that makes it compulsory for all pools or gyms with pools to provide access days or times for those with low incomes and people with disabilities who are on welfare payments where they are offered a reduced rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15538/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for his question and his suggestion, and I note with interest the details supplied.

While there are no current plans for legislation along the lines suggested, as Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are supported to live the lives that they want to live and are provided with equal opportunity to do so. I do not believe that legislative change is necessarily the answer to such issues, and believe that the Deputy's question speaks to the need to address issue related to the cost of disability and to Ireland's journey to meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in everyday life.

This is in line with the State's commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in 2018.

Since ratification, Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations of the UNCRPD is one of continuous advancement - each year moving forward on key reforms to consistently strengthen and uphold obligations and rights arising from the Convention. To date such efforts have been coordinated through the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. Over the course of 2023 my Department will be developing an ambitious successor strategy to the NDIS.

In addition, the Deputy will also be aware that my colleague the Minister for Social Protection is responsible for social welfare supports related to disability, and that my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Art, Culture, Sport and Media holds policy responsibility for accessible sport.