Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
198. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to list the disability consultative groups and members of these groups that her Department engages with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27503/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, overall responsibility for coordination of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
My Department is represented on the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group (NDISSG) which comprises key Government Departments, the National Disability Authority and the Disability Stakeholders Group. The NDISSG is chaired by Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte T.D., meets quarterly, and provides regular reports on the implementation of relevant actions contained in the Strategy coming within the remit of my Department.
I am further advised that my Department has established a Disability Consultative Committee (DCC) as recommended under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy. Officials in my Department are currently in contact with the National Disability Association (NDA) in relation to the assignment of representatives of the Disability Stakeholders Group to this Committee.
My Department also continues to engage with disability groups in relation to the development of specific policies and initiatives across its broad remit.
For example, representatives of both ADI (Arts & Disability Ireland) and DADA (Disabled Artists & Disabled Academics) participated in the Stakeholder Consultation process in relation to the development of the pilot Basic Income for the Arts Scheme.
Development of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, Sports Action Plan 2021-2023, High Performance Strategy 2021-2032 and the recently published Sport Ireland Policy on Diversity and Inclusion in Sport featured engagement with organisations representing disability sport, such as Paralympics Ireland, Special Olympics Ireland, Vision Sports Ireland, the Irish Wheelchair Association and CARA (which is a national pan-disability organisation working to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities).
Ongoing engagement with these organisations is critical in achieving our aims to increase participation in arts, culture and sport by people with disabilities.
I trust that the above information is of assistance to the Deputy. If the Deputy has a specific enquiry in relation to my Department's engagement with any particular representative group my officials will be happy to provide details on request.
