Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 16, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on children, education and disability oversees programme for Government commitments relating to children, education and disability. It receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being, local area disadvantage and the reform of disability services.

In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and its committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. Disability services are a key focus for me. I have made this matter a priority since becoming Taoiseach, and that is why I have established this new Cabinet committee. Being very honest, I did not think that as long as disability services were part of the remit of the Cabinet committee on health they were going to get the proper attention they deserve. That was because the Cabinet committee on health deals with so many issues, including ones that we discuss in this House on a very regular basis.

The new Cabinet committee will have a particular focus on the forthcoming new national disability strategy, which will set out a blueprint for further realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD.

The membership of the Cabinet committee comprises me, as Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Ministers for Health, the environment, children, Education, public expenditure, Finance, Social Protection, housing and further and higher education and the Ministers of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion and disability. Other Ministers and Ministers of State can be invited to participate as required. The first meeting of the Cabinet committee took place on 22 April. The next meeting will be on 13 May.

See this speech in context