Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
25. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role that his Department is taking in leading and coordinating a whole of government approach to accessibility in the public realm given the cross-Departmental nature of this issue. [28411/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principle of accessibility is set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in March 2018. Article 9 of the UNCRPD requires signatories to take measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public.
In addition to the overarching obligations that flow from the UNCRPD, domestic legislation, in the form of the Disability Act 2005, obliges public bodies to ensure that public buildings, heritage sites, and services are accessible to people with disabilities.
My Department recognises the central importance of accessibility in creating a more inclusive society. DCEDIY is responsible for coordinating two whole-of-government strategies which aim to support implementation of Ireland's obligations under the UNCRPD and the Disability Act 2005, including in relation to accessibility. These are the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) (2017-2022) and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (2015-2024).
A number of NDIS actions specifically identify and seek to address a range of accessibility issues, including in relation to the provision of information, transport, assistive technologies, public buildings, ICT and procurement.
Implementation of the NDIS is monitored via NDIS Steering Group meetings through a reporting system which requires Government Departments and Agencies to detail their progress biannually. The group is supported by independent analysis and advice from the National Disability Authority (NDA).
Two working groups have also been established to address specific actions under the NDIS with important accessibility dimensions. The objective of the Action 104 Transport Working Group is to review all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities in order to work towards ensuring more accessible transport options.
An ad-hoc Working Group on Assistive Technology has also been established to make progress on relevant actions related to accessibility and assistive technology.
The Government's approach to accessibility is informed by developments at EU level. Ireland has taken steps to implement the EU Web Accessibility Directive, which requires all public sector websites and mobile applications to be accessible to people with disabilities. My Department is also working to transpose the European Accessibility Act, which will introduce minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services across the EU.
The National Disability Authority (NDA), which is funded and supported by my Department, plays a key role in supporting my Department in the coordination of disability policy, including in relation to accessibility. The Disability Act 2005 established a Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) in the NDA. The CEUD is dedicated to promoting universal design, promoting the design of environments that can be accessed regardless of a person's age, size, ability or disability. The NDA is also responsible for monitoring implementation of the EU Web Accessibility Directive. The first report on implementation of the Directive was published in December 2021.
