Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I completely concur with the Senator. There are certain partnerships and a synergy that is coming. It is coming in the form of a collective piece, and I do not think anybody is in isolation. It is about cohesion. I am aware of some of the people the committee invites to appear before it. There is nothing to say that I have not met them and now the committee is are meeting them. That is very helpful. We are all trying to get under the bonnet to find that positive solution around the remit of Departments and that working piece. It is important to say that when I was in the Department of Health, disability was both the Cinderella and the piggy bank. When spending on health ran over, it was disability moneys that were pinched at all times. That is because it has been under-resourced for donkey's years.

I should also acknowledge the different working groups that were formed as part of the disability stakeholder group and the national disability inclusion strategy. Those working groups, including the transport working group, have been very helpful. Mr. Ciarán Delaney, who has come up today to be here with us, has played a huge part as a member of that group. I also acknowledge the role of the National Bus and Rail Union. The reason I want to acknowledge its role is because the union has a steering group that is solely focused on disability matters. That is very progressive. The group looks at issues, from the bus drivers and the planners in Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, to determine how they can better improve the lives of people using their services. That is really progressive and something we need to see more of.

The Senator is right that we need to see that mainstreaming first, so that we go into our towns and parks, everybody can access them and play in them.

It is not just about one individual. It needs to be mainstreamed. When we raise the tide for all under the optional protocol of the UNCRPD, we will see mainstreaming coming to fruition. Everything has to be done to include all of the population, and I take the Senator’s point on board. To be fair, though, some local authorities are better at that than others. Senator O’Loughlin is in attendance. One of the best local authorities about is Kildare County Council, believe it or not. It integrates universal design completely, leaving no one behind. Be it for a footpath or playground, that is what the council does. It has been one of the leaders in “Changing Places” facilities. It is important that, when we have good practices – I will not say “best practices” – we acknowledge them.