Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 October 2022
333. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 317 and 318 of 22 September 2022, if he will list the disability representative organisations that his Department has engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48917/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 317 and 318 of 22 September 2022, if he will list the disabled persons’ organisations that his Department has engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48918/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 317 and 318 of 22 September 2022, if his Department includes disability service-providers in its definition of disabled persons’ organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 334 and 335 together.
There is continuous engagement by my Department with disability representatives on policy matters. The Department of Health’s Disability Consultative Committee meets generally three to four times a year. The Health Service Executive holds regular meetings with disability representatives through its Disability Consultative Forum. These meetings are an opportunity to hear from disability representatives on their priorities for services.
These fora are an integral part of a wider consultative process with disability stakeholders which oversees and monitors the implementation of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, including the Department of Health’s commitments under that strategy.
The National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee, comprising disability representatives from the Disability Stakeholder group and departmental officials meet around three times a year. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy in turn was developed following three separate phases of consultation with disability stakeholders.
Direct submissions were also sought from disability representative organisations during the consultation on the Disability Action Plan. Overall, 15 detailed submissions were received, many from disability representative organisations.
The Department also engages with a variety of advocacy, umbrella and representative organisations as appropriate through meetings, conferences and other fora. It would not be possible to provide an exhaustive list of organisations with whom the Department and HSE engages, as formal and informal consultation is ongoing.
Disability Service providers are engaged with on a continuous basis by both the Department and the HSE largely pertaining to matters related to service provision and operations.
The Government welcomes the widespread engagement of disability representative organisations in ongoing discussion of policy and resource matters through channels including those listed above, which ensure the voice of people with disabilities is heard in matters affecting them.
