Written Answers Nos. 184-187
184. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding the disabled persons’ representative organisations’ (DPROs) specific consultations on the National Disability Strategy, the reason the Government is not closely working with two DPROs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14307/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is committed to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as ratified by Ireland in 2018. This includes commitment to Article 4(3) which stipulates that State Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organisations in policy making and implementation. Government is also committed to the implementation of Article 33(3) mandating that: “Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.”
In developing the next National Disability Strategy my Department undertook an extensive national formal consultation process which was a genuinely and categorically participative process open to all individuals and groups. Both of the organisations referenced by the Deputy were directly invited to, and did, actively participate in that process on a number of occasions.
The two organisations indicated by the Deputy were included in this consultation process as a matter of course. Both organisations were invited to several town hall events, with open access to more than 30 focus groups led by the National Disability Authority and both received an invitation to participate in a national survey. Both were invited to a key stakeholder event in the summer of last year on the development of the Strategy. Both participated in early scoping engagements in the summer and Autumn of 2022 on development of the strategy and the setting of priorities. The two organisations in question were also engaged at a trilateral meeting with the Department in December 2023 and, where appropriate to their various memberships on representative groups, have been engaged as part of broader consultation with, for example, the Disability Stakeholder Group and the Disability Participation and Consultation Network, during the period when those Groups were in situ. In addition to this, any submissions received by my Department in relation to the Strategy from these organisations have been duly considered on an equal basis to any and all submissions received from DPOs.
Currently under consideration by my Department is the development of robust and comprehensive structures that will provide for effective disability stakeholders’ input and engagement under the National Disability Strategy, in line with obligations under Article 4(3), Article 29(b) and Article 33(3) of the UNCRPD. Consultation on these structures will include seeking the perspectives of all key stakeholders as a matter of course.
185. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason the State is providing contracts and funding to service providers for human rights-based needs without close consultation with disabled persons’ representative organisations, as per Articles 4(3) and 29 (b(ii)) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14308/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question.
At the outset, and as regards the activities of the State as referenced in the question, I would note that in line with the principle of mainstream-first service delivery, it is incumbent upon all public bodies to execute their functions with proper regard for people with disabilities and Ireland’s obligations under the UNCRPD, including consultation with Disabled Persons' Organisations.
Engagement with stakeholders, especially with disabled people, is a priority for my Department in working to provide high-quality, person-centred disability supports and services. Since the Transfer of Functions in March 2023, a number of consultation events on disability services have taken place in order to garner the views of those who use services, to help guide the Department in terms of funding and policy choices. These events include an event on respite policy, an event on the implementation of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, as well as our first pre-Estimates forum on disability services. This Pre-Estimates forum will be an annual event.
In late 2023, the Department established the Disability Stakeholder Strategic Advisory Group, whose membership is comprised of a range of stakeholders from the disability sector, including Disabled Persons’ Organisations. This group helps advise the Department on high-level disability strategy and policy. This group also acts as the Monitoring Group for the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, reviewing progress on a twice-yearly basis, advising on how best to resolve any emerging risks or difficulties, in particular those affecting major items in the Action Plan, or where delivery is well off-course.
The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 sets out targets and goals for service expansion and policy development in disability services and was developed with input from an extensive public consultation in which the views of nearly 800 people, including disabled people, were garnered. The consultation also featured submissions from a number of representative organisations, including Disabled Persons’ Organisations.
186. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline, given that Ireland ranks last in terms of European disability employment, how the Government looks to address these concerns; if the Government will consult all disabled persons’ representative organisations (DPROs) in this respect; to outline the Government’s response to the failure of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities 2015-2024 to address the employment levels within Ireland; the body which is upholding and monitoring the Government’s commitment to closely work with DRPOs as subject to the UNCRPD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14309/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment acknowledges that the employment gap for disabled people in Ireland remains unacceptably high. It is Government policy to continually increase the number of disabled people in employment. While there is more to be done, progress has been made to ensure that disabled people are supported to access employment opportunities on an equal basis to all others.
The issue of employment supports, labour market activation, and employer outreach, principally fall to my colleagues the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including in relation to disabled persons.
Within my own remit, work is underway on the development of a new National Disability Strategy to coordinate efforts across government on a range of disability issues, including employment. I also provide funding for the Employers for Change programme, which seeks to provide employers with all the information and advice needed to hire, employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities. Funding is also provided for the Towards Work programme which seeks to provide pre-activation supports for disabled people.
The Deputy references the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES) for Persons with Disabilities (2015-2024) which was the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. The CES provided a whole of government framework to addressing barriers to employment faced by people with disabilities, with actions focused on building skills, capacity and independence, providing bridges and supports into work, and implementing initiatives that support work, promote job retention and re-entry to work.
Successes under the CES include the progression of recommendations arising from the Make Work Pay Report, the increased uptake in mainstream education and training options among young people with disabilities, increased participation by students with physical or mobility disabilities in higher education, and the success of the Ability Programme. Under the CES, a commitment was also enshrined in legislation to increase the proportion of disabled persons employed in the public sector from 3% to 6% by 2025. This will increase opportunities for disabled people to participate and thrive in the public service.
Following the conclusion of the CES and the former National Disability Inclusion Strategy, my Department is leading across government on the development of a new National Disability Strategy. The topic of employment and ensuring opportunities to participate fully in the workforce will be a cornerstone of the new Strategy. Working collaboratively across government and with stakeholders, the new National Disability Strategy will build on the successes of the CES and revitalise the Government’s commitment to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded opportunities to work on an equal basis with others.
The design and development of the National Disability Strategy has been influenced and shaped by input from a wide-ranging and extensive national consultation process and ongoing regular engagement with disability stakeholders, including in particular Disabled Persons' Organisations. This is in fulfilment of our obligations under Article 4(3) of the UNCRPD which obliges states to closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organisations in policy making and implementation.
It is the responsibility of all public bodies to execute their functions in a fashion that reflects their UNCRPD obligations and advances the realisation of the rights set out in the Convention. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is the independent monitoring mechanism for the UNCRPD in Ireland.
187. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when creating and consulting on new employment strategies for disabled people, the reason the Government is prioritising consulting from service providers (details supplied) over certain specialised disabled persons’ representative organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14311/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question and would note that the development of any dedicated employment strategy for disabled people would fall to the respective remits of the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
My Department is leading across government on the development of the next National Disability Strategy. The topic of employment and ensuring opportunities to participate fully in the workforce will be a cornerstone of this Strategy.
The design and development of the National Disability Strategy has been influenced and shaped by input from a wide-ranging and extensive national consultation process and ongoing regular engagement with disability stakeholders, including in particular Disabled Persons' Organisations. No service provider has been prioritised above any Disabled Persons' Organisation in contributing to the development of the National Disability Strategy. The two Disabled Persons' Organisations indicated by the Deputy were included in the consultation process for the NDS as a matter of course and were invited to, and did, participate in a number of key stakeholder events during the development process.
