Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. We have a legal obligation to ensure our budgets are equality proofed.

Dr. McCarthy referred to the importance of data. What type of data currently exist and where are the gaps? For instance, one area where I have been trying to secure information is that of the private rental sector, to which Dr. McCarthy referred. I have not been able to get a number on how many properties comply with the Part M regulations. If we do not have that type of data, how can we plan for demographic changes and so on? Will Dr. McCarthy comment on the data, its importance and what we can do to improve that?

Related to the same issue, Ms Carthy said that the Irish Wheelchair Association was looking for 10% of all future builds to not only comply with the Part M regulation but to be accessible for people in wheelchairs to live, not just to visit. Will she comment on that? It may be a silly question, but can she differentiate between what the Part M regulations envisage with regard to visitation as opposed to having a property in which someone could live?

On the process and how we move it forward, lessons are being learned from gender proofing; if the witnesses were setting the indicators, what type of indicators would they seek in each Department? It goes right across the Departments, even article 28 covers about five different Departments. It is not good enough for one Department to set indicators, it needs to come out of the silos, as Ms Carthy put it.

On the Department of Justice and Equality having issued guidelines for Government Departments and how to conduct a disability impact assessment in 2012, can the witnesses say how well it is working or is it working?