Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department continue to liaise with disability groups with a view to ensuring fair and equal treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5755/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2018 and continues to progressively realise its obligations under the Convention.
The UNCRPD requires State parties to actively involve people with disabilities in policy development (Articles 4.3 and 33.3).
As a first step towards full implementation of UNCRPD requirements on consultation, my Department has begun the process of building and supporting the consultation framework for involving people with disabilities in the policy development process.
My Department has funded the development of a Disability Participation and Consultation Network to build capacity within the disability community so that people with disabilities and their representative organisations can fully participate in policy-making. The Network was formed in late 2020 and has been funded to continue its work in 2021 and 2022.
The Network has over 100 members with funding provided to an organising member and four grant funded members. Members include disability organisations, disabled people's organisations (DPOs), individuals with disabilities and family members and support groups. They represent a wide and diverse set of experiences of disabilities which ensures a huge amount of knowledge and experience is available.
The Network is not the only means by which my Department seeks to fulfil its UNCPRD obligations. My Department has the coordinating role in respect of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the steering group of which is chaired by my colleague Minister Anne Rabbitte T.D.. Incorporated into this structure is the Disability Stakeholder Group, which provides independent monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy. It is a voluntary group of 26 individuals with expertise and lived experience of disability. Members include DPOs, representatives from disability organisations, alongside individuals, persons with lived experience, family members and academics. The current iteration of the DSG (DSG 6) commenced this year following an expression of interest for members last Summer.
In addition to these two more formal consultation groups, my Department also seeks to use wider public consultation through submissions, surveys and online and in person workshops to ensure that as many views from disability groups and stakeholders are collated and incorporated into policy developments.
