Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
911. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made in addressing the recommendations of the Cost of Disability Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54188/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cost of Disability in Ireland report was commissioned by the Minister for Social Protection and prepared by Indecon International Research Economists. It was published in December 2021. It provides important evidence of the additional costs that people with a disability face in their day-to-day lives.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to use research into the cost of disability to properly inform the direction of future policy. As the evidence in the Cost of Disability in Ireland report has implications for many areas of public policy, a whole-of-government approach is required to develop appropriate and timely responses and to ensure that everyday costs are reduced for people with disabilities and their families.
For this reason, the coordination of this whole-of-government response is being carried out under the framework of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS). The NDIS is one of two national policy frameworks through which the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth works to advance the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland, the other is the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
The Cost of Disability in Ireland report was considered by the NDIS Steering Group (NDISSG) in December 2021, within 24 hours of publication. Indecon International Research Economists presented the findings of their research to the NDISSG and it was agreed at the next NDISSG, which took place in March 2022, that the Cost of Disability Report would be included as a standing item on the NDISSG’s agenda going forward.
