Written Answers Nos. 1-25
8. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made to address the situation of those who were given an illegal birth registration at St. Patrick’s Guild; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28727/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to addressing the distressing situation of those affected by the St. Patrick’s Guild Illegal Birth Registrations.
In February, I established an Interdepartmental Group to develop a set of integrated proposals that would address the issues arising for these individuals. They span a range of areas including, in particular, birth registration, identity, parentage and inheritance.
I brought the IDG's proposals to Government earlier this month in partnership with my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. The Government approved our proposals and also approved the drafting of legislation to give effect to their central elements.
The proposals provide for full access to birth and early life information for people who are affected by illegal birth registration or who suspect that they may be. They address the issue of correcting the birth registration of affected individuals, and providing them with choice and clarity in matters relating to their identity.
They also provide a process to ensure that the parents who raised them can be acknowledged as their legal parents, where that is the person’s wish. I am pleased to have been able to bring forward proposals in this sensitive and complex area, which I believe will address the issues raised for those who, through no fault of their own, have been affected by Illegal Birth Registrations
The proposals are set out in the Heads of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill which I published on 11 May. I have referred the Heads of Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny and I understand that this process is now underway.
At the same time, I have commenced a consultation process with individuals who have been affected by illegal birth registrations and their views will inform finalisation of the legislation.
The IDG proposals also considered the matter of succession, and my colleague, the Minister for Justice has committed, to amending the Succession Act 1965 without delay to ensure that those affected will, for the purposes of the Act, be deemed to be the children of the people who raised them.
More generally, I am committed to continued engagement with the affected individuals on all matters of concern and to advancing the Birth Information and Tracing legislation as a matter of priority.
12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the national childcare scheme; the measures he has taken to allay the challenges faced by community early learning and childcare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Childcare scheme launched in November 2019, marking the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare in Ireland.
To date, over 105,200 applications have been submitted for the NCS relating to over 99,400 children.
There are currently 911 community services contracted to provide the NCS, out of a total of just over 1,200 community services in the country.
I fully understand that change can be challenging and appreciate that some services are experiencing difficulties with the change to the NCS.
For those services experiencing difficulties, my Department oversees a case management process through which local Childcare Committees and Pobal work together to assess and provide support.
The case management process provides non-financial assistance or support in the first instance, but financial supports are also available for services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment.
Any service that has concerns about their viability, should contact their local Childcare Committee in the first instance.
I would also note that services have received sustainability and other forms of financial supports from my Department and continue to receive supports through other national measures to help alleviate the impact of Covid-19 on their businesses.
Among these supports is the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which currently covers up to 50% of the operating costs for services.
A review of the NCS has recently commenced, as required under Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018. At my specific request the review will include an assessment of the Scheme’s impact on services operating in disadvantaged communities.
The review will provide a basis for my Department to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it is meeting the objectives which can be measured meaningfully within the first year. It is intended to publish the findings from this Review in the last quarter of this year.
In addition, an Expert Group convened by my Department is examining the current model of funding for early learning and childcare and its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services.
The Group is considering how additional funding can be delivered to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area. The Group will submit its recommendations later this year. The development of a DEIS type model for early learning and childcare will be among the recommendations.
13. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the level of capital grant assistance available towards the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28570/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers an annual capital funding programme for early learning and childcare services.
The exact objective of the funding is determined on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers and to the Government’s priorities.
In recent years, a key objective of the annual capital programme has been to expand capacity in early learning and childcare services. Over the period 2015-2019, more 27,433 new places were funded under this Programme.
I was pleased to be able to make funding of €10.5m available under the Annual Capital Programme for 2021. Of this funding:
- €5m has been allocated across 643 services to carry out remedial works to ensure these services will be fully compliant with fire safety standards as set out in Tulsa's registration requirements; and
- €5.5million will allocated across all registered early learning and childcare services to enable them to improve outdoor play facilities.
Further details of these outdoor play grants will be announced next week.
On the question of capital grants to increase capacity, the demand for additional places in the sector is currently under review. I am conscious that since the onset of Covid-19, there is evidence of depressed demand for early learning and childcare, largely due to changes in parental work arrangements.
We need to assess carefully the likely demand for places in the years ahead. It is important to plan ahead appropriately, on the basis of the best data and projections of likely demand available.
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey 2021, due to commence this month, will allow updated information on capacity to be gathered. In addition, an Ipsos/MRBI survey of parents is currently underway to assess likely parental demand for early learning and childcare from September 2022.
These data will help inform capital investment plans and the prioritisation of future capital funding, including funding allocated under Project Ireland 2040. I have made a detailed submission in relation to Capital Funding in the Early Years sector to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
14. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to the extending remit of the Department of Education in relation to the sponsorship of children within the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28571/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the Deputy has clarified that this extended remit of the Department of Education relates to the educational welfare services in Tusla having a sponsor role under the National Childcare Scheme. The Scheme is under review at present, and this provides us with an opportunity to consider any possible changes to sponsorship arrangements.
The National Childcare Scheme represents the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for early learning and childcare.
It marks a shift away from previous schemes, which were based on medical card and social protection entitlements to offer a progressive system of universal and income-based subsidies.
The scheme is designed so that those on lowest incomes receive the greatest support.
The NCS also includes sponsorship arrangements that allows for additional support for vulnerable families where there is an identified need for early learning and childcare on the grounds of child development or child welfare.
There are currently five sponsorship arrangements in place. This includes the Department of Education who can make NCS referrals for teen parents under the age of 18 so they can remain in education or training.
I am committed to reviewing and extending these arrangement where appropriate.
A formal review of the NCS has commenced, as required under Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018. It is intended that a finalised report of this review will be published in late 2021. At my specific request the review will include an assessment of the Scheme’s impact on services operating in disadvantaged communities.
The review will provide a basis for the DCEDIY to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it is meeting the objectives which are meaningfully measurable within the first year.
Based on this Review, I will consider any necessary changes to enhance the NCS, including arrangements for sponsorship.
15. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagements he has had with representatives of young persons regarding their concerns for the future given the impact of Covid-19; the measures he plans to take to address their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26135/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the Deputy’s question as I am committed to listening to young people and understanding all aspects of their lives, particularly at present in relation to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The importance of supporting young people through this crisis and beyond is also reflected in the additional €5 million funding I secured for youth services in the last budget. This brought annual funding provided to youth services by my Department to almost €70m in 2021.
Last year my Department worked alongside the Department of Health and the youth sector, in collaboration with SpunOut.ie, to undertake an online survey of young people’s experiences of COVID-19.
The publication of the How’s Your Head report has been shared with Government colleagues to inform the development of responses to COVID-19 particularly as relevant to the needs of young people.
The consultation asked young people what had been working well for them, and what challenges they have faced in maintaining their wellbeing during COVID-19. A Youth Advisory Group worked alongside my Department to guide the development and analysis of the consultation. 2,173 young people, aged 15-24, responded to the consultation and the findings included:
- 37% of young people expressed optimism. This was higher for those who engaged with youth groups/clubs/services.
- 58% of reported feelings about their future were negative, including anxiety, pessimism, fear and sadness; a figure that was highest amongst marginalised groups.
- Young people reported missing friends, health problems, isolation, loss of social life and work among the impacts of COVID-19.
- The report also provided ideas and feedback from the youth advisory group on how to address the findings.
My Department will continue to support youth services to play their part in enabling young people to maintain their mental and physical health.
My Department has met regularly with youth sector representatives throughout the pandemic to address emerging issues and ensure that young people, particularly those who are vulnerable, continue to be supported.
16. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that was provided to childcare services in Cork under the ECCE programme since the beginning of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28568/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraECCE is a two-year pre-school programme available to all children. The programme runs from September to June each year. ECCE is not mandatory, but participation rates are very high, with 95% of children in the eligible age range attending.
Pobal administers the ECCE programme on behalf of my Department, and they have informed me that there are 880 services providing the ECCE Programme in Cork city and county. Currently, there are 12,130 children availing of the ECCE Programme across these services.
Payment under the ECCE programme is by way of capitation, payable directly to services in respect of each eligible child enrolled. The total funding allocated to these 880 services for the period 01 January 2020 to 21 May 2021 was €43.7m.
Since the onset of Covid-19, there has been some changes to ECCE funding owing to various Covid-19 restrictions.
Over the initial closure of services in 2020 (from 12 March-29 June), funding under the ECCE programme and other DCEDIY schemes was redirected towards the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme.
Since September 2020, in addition to capitation provided under the ECCE Programme, all services were eligible to avail of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which at current rates, covers up to 50% of services operating costs.
The ECCE Programme closed over 6 January to 8 March 2021, when services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only.
Over the period 6 - 31 January, services continued to receive full ECCE funding, in addition to EWSS.
From 1 February -7 March, ECCE funding was reduced to 70% for closed services but was maintained at 100% for open services.
The continuation of ECCE funding during that period, and other supports provided by my Department, was conditional on services retaining staff, continuing to engage with children enrolled on the Programme and waiving fees where children were not accessing a service.
The ECCE programme resumed on 8 March 2021, with no significant drop in enrolment rates. Moreover, there is strong evidence of the effectiveness of Covid-19 supports, with the data on services that have closed and opened in 2020 are directly comparable to 2019.
17. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of meetings or briefings he has had with the board of Tusla in respect of the ransomware attack. [28629/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the cyber attack I have spoken on a very regular basis with the Chief Executive Officer of Tusla, Bernard Gloster. I have had a lengthy engagement wth the Chair of the Board, Pat Rabbitte. I have not had a separate meeting with the entire Board of Tusla on this matter because I am satisfied that it is being handled appropriately in other ways.
My most recent meeting with the Board was my quarterly meeting on the 13th April, before the ransomware attack occurred. However, I can assure the Deputy that the Board has been fully briefed by the CEO, which is the normal approach.
The CEO of Tusla is providing daily verbal updates to the Chair of the Board and the Chair of the Organisational Development Committee as the situation evolves and he has also provided a number of written updates to the Board.
My officials are in daily contact with Tusla since being alerted to the attack on 14 May, to ensure risks can be mitigated as much as possible and frontline services can be maintained. The Deputy will no doubt recall the detailed oral briefing from the CEO of Tusla and the many issues discussed with him in our call on Friday last, 21 May.
The Deputy will also have received the letter issued by the Tusla CEO to members of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration on the same day which outlined the actions taken by the Agency since the attack.
The containment shut down actioned by Tusla on the 14th May was taken as a security measure, given that many of Tusla's key systems and some legacy and corporate systems are hosted on the HSE network. Nonetheless, the consequent disruption and impact on service delivery and the potential exfiltration of individuals' highly sensitive and personal information has been of great concern to me.
My priority, and that of Tusla, is to ensure that the critical services and supports for the protection, welfare and care of our children continue to operate within these very challenging circumstances.
18. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to enable stakeholder consultation to Ireland’s first report to the UN under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28735/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is designated as Ireland’s Focal Point and Coordination Mechanism under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and is responsible for the drafting of Ireland’s Initial State report on the implementation of the Convention. Drafting of the State Report is ongoing.
On the 3 December 2020, I published a draft version of the Initial State report for a period of public consultation. The public consultation stage closed on the 9 April 2021.
The public consultation process involved a number of strands. Stakeholders were invited to make written submissions to my Department. Seventy submissions have been received in this regard.
In addition, my Department ran three days of online public stakeholder consultation events in March and April. The recently established Disability Participation and Consultation Network, which involves a wide range of disability stakeholders, has carried out its own consultation process and has submitted it to the Department. Finally, my Department is consulting with children and young people on UNCRPD.
I believe that we have benefited considerably from the important process of stakeholder consultation, and that the final version of the State Report will be able to reflect the views and experiences offered so fully by participants. I intend to bring the State Report to Government for approval in the normal way, in advance of formally submitting it to the Committee later this year.
19. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay in commencing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. [28651/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to commencing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act by June 2022, and I do not envisage a delay to that date at this point. The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform it represents. The Act is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis and the wards of court system for adults is abolished.
The timescale for commencement of the Act is influenced by two principal factors. The Decision Support Service, which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the Act, has to become operational and to be able to respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. Amendments are also required to the Act before full commencement can take place. Work is taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which I expect to have enacted by the end of this year. These amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions. They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the Act.
Some provisions of the Act have been commenced to enable the recruitment of the Director of the Decision Support Service; the establishment of a multidisciplinary working group in relation to Advance Healthcare Directives; and most recently, on 1February this year, the repeal of the outdated Marriage of Lunatics Act 1811, which means that a ward can now marry if she or he has capacity to do so.
The Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the Act. To this end I have secured a budget of €5.8 million for the Decision Support Service in 2021, a significant increase on its €3.5 million 2020 budget.
A high-level Steering Group, chaired by my Department, meets monthly to oversee and drive progress towards full commencement. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, the Mental Health Commission, the HSE, the Courts Service, and the Decision Support Service, recognising that successful operation of the Act will involve multiple stakeholders. They are working towards commencement of the legislation in June 2022, with the Decision Support Service opening for business immediately thereafter.
I recognise the concerns expressed by those who are in need of the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act. However, it is also important that we develop robust systems under the Decision Support Service that respond adequately to the needs of those with capacity difficulties and of their families. I am confident that the time that we devote now to getting this process right will give us a person-centred approach that will truly be in the interests of those who need it most.
20. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied that Tusla is sufficiently protected against the recent cyber-attack. [28632/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to start by acknowledging that the past weeks have been significantly challenging for the Agency and all its committed staff, particularly coming as it does following on from the crisis associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
I have absolute faith in the abilities of the crisis management team chaired by CEO, the technical incident room chaired by Director of ICT and the significant expertise in security and associated matters that have been deployed, to make the key management decisions required with this incident and address the impact of the HSE cyber attack on Tusla's systems and service provision.
I must stress that this is an evolving situation. It is too early or perhaps impossible to be absolute about protections against the attack in the context of the criminal activity underpinning it. I am satisfied however that the Agency's risk management approach has identified the relevant risks associated with the attack and is putting in place the appropriate mitigating actions. I am also satisfied that the full resources of the State are being deployed to protect the Agency, and more importantly, the sensitive and personal information of service users associated with the Agency's files and data systems.
21. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the roll-out of the pilot vulnerability assessment programme for international protection applicants and plans to establish a vulnerability assessment process as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28736/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra42. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pilot vulnerability assessment scheme for international protection applicants has been implemented; the learnings his Department has obtained from the pilot; when the standard implementation of vulnerability assessments will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 42 together.
A Vulnerability Assessment process is currently being piloted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. The pilot commenced in December 2020 and was extended to all new applicants for international protection from the beginning of February. The pilot will continue until end 2021, at which point it will be evaluated, and this will be used to inform the long term implementation of vulnerability assessments.
The purpose of these assessments is to determine if, by virtue of a particular category of vulnerability, an applicant is deemed to have special reception needs, what those needs are and what actions are required to address those needs.
IPAS assess the vulnerability of everyone who makes an application for international protection to the International Protection Office (IPO). Where an application includes children of an applicant, IPAS also assess their vulnerability in an appropriate manner.
The Vulnerability Assessment begins with an initial interview after the applicant first applies for international protection. If this initial assessment indicates that the applicant is a vulnerable person, within the meaning of the relevant EU Directive, further assessments may be carried out while the applicant is living in the IPAS Reception Centre, or subsequently when they have moved to longer term accommodation.
Taken together, these assessments are used to determine whether the applicant has special reception needs arising from any vulnerabilities identified. IPAS will endeavour to accommodate these needs in so far as possible.
To ensure that the interview stays to its purpose, the assessor will be provided with a standard list of assessment questions. These questions are based on the various categories of vulnerability identified within the EU Reception Conditions Directive and the Irish Regulations, and have been refined within the Irish context with the help of the HSE. The assessment will be carried out in a sensitive, conversational manner with gender-appropriate officers and interpretation as required.
It is intended that the questions used will be kept under review during the pilot phase and refined to ensure the process continues to elicit the best possible information to assist in the assessment.
22. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the NCSA in respect of the ransom ware attack; and if he will outline same. [28635/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Tuesday 25th May I attending a briefing session with the National Cyber Security Centre in respect of the recent ransom ware attacks. I have also been attending a daily Ministerial meeting on the matter.
ICT services are provided to my Department by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). The provision of ICT security is part of that service.
My officials are engaging closely with the OGCIO on this issue, who in turn are engaging with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that best practice is followed as it relates to all aspects of Cybersecurity.
23. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made in relation to the objective for all parents to have access to quality, affordable childcare in the National Strategy for Women and Girls. [28652/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy of the positive progress made on improving access to high quality, and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare (ELC/SAC). Key achievements include:
- Since 2015, State investment has increased by 141%.
- Since 2018, all children are entitled to two full years of the ECCE Programme. For the current programme year, there are more than 102,000 children enrolled.
- The National Childcare Scheme was introduced in 2019. To date, over 105,200 applications have been submitted for the NCS relating to over 99,400 children.
- Since 2016, the Access and Inclusion Model or AIM, has supported almost 15,300 children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme.
- Over the period 2015-2019, 27,433 ELC/SAC places were funded under my Department’s Annual Capital Programme.
Steps have also been taken to improve quality. This includes regulatory reform, the introduction of new qualification requirements and continued roll-out of training in the curriculum and quality frameworks.
Since the onset of Covid-19, my Department has also focused on putting in place a range of supports for ELC/SAC. The objective of these supports have been to:
- support providers’ sustainability to enable services return to normal once restrictions were lifted;
- support providers to retain their staff;
- ensure that ELC/SAC could reopen and remain open, even at very low levels of occupancy;
- ensure that ELC/SAC could operate safely for children, families and staff;
- ensure that increased costs associated with public health requirements, and lower demand / occupancy were not passed on to parents;
- achieve administrative efficiency through the continued use of existing funding schemes and other whole of economy supports; and
- protect exchequer investment.
Supports included the continuation of DCEDIY subsidy schemes on an ex-gratia basis (12 March – 5 April 2020); the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (6 April – 28 June 2020); the Reopening Funding Package (29 June – 23 August 2020), the July Stimulus Package that included the EWSS and a Sustainability Fund (from 24 August to end December 2020) and tailored funding arrangements to respond to Level 5 restrictions in the post-Christmas period, that included a new Covid-19 Operating Support Payment and a new Covid-19 strand of the Sustainability Fund, in addition to the EWSS.
There is strong evidence of the effectiveness of these supports. Data on services that have closed and opened in 2020 are directly comparable to 2019 so there has been no loss of capacity. Revenue data indicates that the number of employees in the sector has not changed substantially over the course of the pandemic. Moreover, data from the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2020 revealed no significant increase in fees charged to parents.
While my Department continues to respond COVID-19 challenges in the sector, the importance of long-term and long-lasting development and reform is ever more important and progress continues to be made in this area.
One of the major objectives in the First 5 Strategy, is that babies and young children have access to safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate ELC/SAC which reflects diversity of need. To meet this objective, the following Strategic Actions have been identified:
- Make high-quality ELC/SAC for more affordable
- Maintain and extend the supply of high-quality ELC/SAC; and
- Ensure that ELC/SAC provision promotes participation, strengthens social inclusion and embraces diversity.
To meet this objective, First 5 identified a range of actions and also signposts major reforms, including a new workforce development plan, a new funding model and a new operating model for the sector. There is also a commitment to at least double investment in ELC/SAC by 2028.
The First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2019 published in November 2020 reports on progress made on these actions, with 90% of all 2019 milestones met.
The First 5 Annual Implementation Report 2020 will be published in the coming months.
24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider bringing to Ireland at least an additional 400 refugees from Lesbos and or other refugee camps in Greece. [41661/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department, along with Tusla personnel and members of An Garda Síochána will travel next week to Greece for a selection and security screening process for 12 refugee families (50 persons) and 27 Separated Children Seeking International Protection.
The Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from the island of Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland between 2020 and 2023. The pledge regarding the children was part of an earlier commitment for relocations from Greece. No further offer has been made to the Greek authorities.
25. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the position regarding the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42532/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which was drafted to ensure implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, had completed Dáil Committee Stage during the previous Government, but lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Dáil and Seanad and was not restored to the Order Paper. Consideration is being given to the possibility of amalgamating it with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill. Policy proposals for that Bill are due to be settled shortly in this regard with the aim of enactment as part of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill before year end.
