Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

It is difficult to put a concrete figure on it. I have a figure that more than €6.5 million was provided since 2008 specifically to non-governmental organisations, NGOs, working with people with disabilities. They would be organisations such as Sightsavers, CBM Ireland and Children in Crossfire but there is also a Dóchas disability and development group representatives of which I met with last June. Dóchas is the umbrella body for the various NGOs. That is a useful group in terms of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities in the programme.

It is difficult to put a figure on the exact percentage because so much of it is part of what is being done by particular organisations, and programmes in particular, but if we can get more accurate figures than that in terms of percentages I will forward them to the Senator. The rights approach is important in terms of both our national and international obligations and I will ensure that approach is maintained in terms of the review of the White Paper.