Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
35. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what considerations she gave to the recommendations contained in the National Disability Authority submission on her Department's Statement of Strategy 2023-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49694/23]
View answerThe Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 for the Department of Rural and Community Development was published in August of this year and is available at Gov.ie.
The Strategy sets out the vision and strategic goals that will guide the work of my Department over the period 2023 to 2025 towards delivery of its mission “to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland”.
Publication of the Strategy followed an extensive consultation exercise with a wide range of stakeholders, including the National Disability Authority, and consideration was given to all feedback received. The National Disability Authority's submission made recommendations in relation to how services and supports within my Department’s remit should be provided to members of the public with disabilities.
My Department's current Strategy reflects a number of the high level recommendations made in the National Disability Authority's submission and I am grateful for their engagement with my officials during this process.
In terms of implementing the Strategy and delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities and individuals, including people with disabilities. For example:
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) supports disadvantaged communities and individuals, including people with disabilities.
• The Community Services Programme (CSP) works on a social enterprise model and supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people including those with disabilities.
• Other funding programmes delivered by my Department, such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Enhancement Programme, can provide capital support for new or upgraded works in the public realm which increase accessibility for people with disabilities.
• In 2022, the CLÁR Programme included a measure targeted specifically at assisting people with mobility challenges.
• One of the objectives of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which is administered by my Department, is to facilitate the development of outdoor recreational facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities and older people. In developing the scheme my Department has worked with Cara which is a national pan-disability sport organisation providing a collaborative and partnership platform to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities across Ireland. Project applicants under ORIS are required to indicate how the proposed project is inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults, and this forms part of the assessment criteria used to evaluate applications under the scheme.
