Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
51. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any meetings of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group have taken place since January 2022 to progress the review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers' scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28537/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is one of two national policy frameworks through which the rights of people with disabilities are advanced in Ireland. Implementation of the NDIS is monitored by the NDIS Steering Group, which I chair.
In addition, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to drive Action 104 of the NDIS but its work was paused to prioritise initial responses to the pandemic, while the work of the main NDIS Steering Group continued.
Action 104 of the NDIS commits that ‘we will lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and will develop proposals for development of a coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.’
The Transport Working Group's membership is made up of relevant Government Departments and state agencies including the National Disability Authority and the National Transport Authority.
Following engagement from my colleague the Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. last year, it was decided to use the Transport Working Group to assist with the review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. Legislative and budgetary responsibility for the Scheme continues to lie with the Department of Finance.
The Transport Working Group met at the end of January this year at a meeting which I chaired. An update on the work of the group was also given to the Steering Group of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy in April. The current focus of the groups work is a stock taking exercise to scope and map the provision of transport supports across a range of government departments and state bodies.
While delays have occurred in scheduling committees because officials have been temporarily diverted to the work to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, further meetings of the NDIS Steering Group and the Transport Working Group will be scheduled over the coming period.
