The issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for disability. Important cross-Government action to review and consider proposals for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports has been advanced through the framework of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), and in particular in the context of Action 104 of the NDIS. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard.
The first meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 4 March 2020 and in it the aims and scope of the Transport Working Group were discussed. The work of the group was paused for a time as a result of the exigencies demanded by all Departments in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. From January 2022 onwards, in resuming its work, I have chaired the Transport Working Group. At the Transport Working Group’s second meeting on 26 January 2022, the Group discussed several key mobility and transport schemes. The main output of the meeting was an agreement to undertake a stocktaking exercise of State-funded mobility and transport schemes to fulfil the ‘review’ element of Action 104. The third meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 6 September 2022. At this meeting, presentations on relevant transport and mobility schemes included in the Stocktaking Report were made by relevant departments and agencies on the Working Group. It was agreed at this meeting that the final output of the Transport Working Group to complete Action 104 would be a report containing proposals from members of the Group for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities going forward. This report was discussed at the Working Group's fourth and final meeting on 8 December 2022.
The discussions at the Transport Working Group have been particularly enriched by the contributions of Disability Stakeholder Group representatives, and other disability organisations, who have ensured that the lived experience of people with disabilities remains at the centre of considerations.
The Group's work is now completed, and the final report of the Transport Working Group will be finalised and published in Q1 2023. It will be incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced following the completion of Action 104 and the conclusion of the NDIS in 2022.
