Minister of State for Disability to address Joint Committee on progress regarding Disability Services

The Joint Committee on Disability will meet tomorrow, Thursday November 25th  to discuss aligning disability services with the UNCRPD. The Commitee will also receive an update on progress regarding Disability Services from the Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte. 

The meeting will be broadcast live from Committee Room 4 at 9:45am. 

The UNCRPD is a landmark Convention which simply seeks to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy the same human rights as everyone else. This calls for a step-change across all sectors of society from a medial model of disability to a social and rights-based model of care, which ensures the inclusion of all groups of people with disabilities across our communities. 

The Committee will meet with the Minister and consider limitations and challenges in accessing current service provision, as highlighted in the last four public meetings. 

The following representatives are also due to appear:

Representatives from the Department of Health: Patsy Carr, Principal Officer and Audrey Hagerty, Principal Officer.
Representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE): Bernard O'Regan, Head of Disability Strategy and Reform, Breda Crehan Roche, Chief Officer, Community Health Organisation, West, Professor Malcolm MacLachlan, Clinical Lead for People with Disabilities.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Moynihan said: “We have spent the past four weeks hearing the lived experience of witnesses and analysis about aligning disability services with the UNCPRD.”

“We look forward to hearing from the Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte about her plans to transform disability services from the medical model to a rights-based model of care.” 

“The Committee are aware that currently the rate of poverty and social exclusion for people with disabilities in Ireland is one of the highest in the EU at 38.1%. Despite additional cost to disability some disabled people have paid beyond their means for a private consultation because they felt waiting lists are too long. This places a significant financial burden on people with disabilities and their families.” 

“Disability policy functions currently in the Department of Health will transfer to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth early next year. It is hoped having all the strands of disability policy under the Minister’s remit in one Department will facilitate easier collaboration and innovation in the delivery of services to persons with a disability.”

Watch the Committee live here.