Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will follow up on the optional protocol also because it comes up in the committee regularly and is an issue of concern for it. The Minister mentioned the phrase "[until] the obligations set out in it can be complied with". Are we ever going to be in a position where we will be fully compliant with the UNCRPD?

The UNCRPD is an international agreement into which we entered, but we are not meeting its terms as yet. I know work is ongoing but we are seen as something of a laggard in Europe in respect of how we treat people with disabilities. The first stage report of the UNCRPD committee was produced in November 2021. I know there are delays at UN level. Have we any indication as to when Ireland will be before the committee? It is now a year and three months since the production of that report. What mechanisms are available for disabled people? Does the Minister think there are actions disabled people can take if their needs are not being met within Ireland? Are people aware of the procedures? Some of them can be quite complex.

The Minister mentioned the transfer of powers. I know a date has been given in that respect, which I welcome. That is definitely going ahead on 6 March and I presume a significant budget will be transferring to the Department from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That is probably going to be awkward, but I presume it is being worked out.

The Minister has responsibility for children. Child services regularly arise as an issue. There are delays in assessments of need and the provision of services. Many parents feel they have no recourse but to take a case to the courts if an assessment of need is not carried out within the timeframe. However, there is no statutory obligation to provide services to a child once an assessment has been carried out. Children are regressing in many cases because they are not getting the services they desire. Bearing in mind his responsibilities in respect of children and disability, has the Minister a plan to address these very urgent matters? There are some long-term steps that need to be taken around planning for the workforce and retention issues. Is there a plan to deal with children who are currently in the system and are not having their needs met?

The Minister said he is working on a successor to the national disability inclusion strategy, which ran out at the end of 2022. Consequently, we are working in a vacuum. I presume there is no strategy there. How soon will a strategy be put in place? Should that not have been worked on so that it would be ready to seamlessly flow from the end of 2022?