Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 23, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on disabilities has been established to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability with specific focus on children’s disability services as well as disability services more generally under the forthcoming new national disability strategy. It is due to meet shortly.

Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services. To deliver on this I have established a standalone Cabinet committee on disability. The Government is committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities.

We will prioritise the publication of and fund a new national disability strategy, setting out a vision to 2030. We will adopt a whole-of-government approach and advance the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention of Persons with Disabilities.

I am also establishing a disability unit in my Department. This unit will support the work of the Minister for children, disability and equality and other Ministers in driving cross-government working and collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities and enable them to achieve their potential.

I know many in the various sectors are working hard for children, but the system is not delivering. I want to unlock the capability I know exists and further build capacity to implement models of support and care that work, particularly for children and families. I am engaging with Ministers and officials to fully tease out the programme of work for the unit to establish how it can best add value and impetus to the disability agenda in the same way the Department has done in the area of child poverty. On Monday, 24 February, we had a good meeting on the unit attended by eight Ministers.

The unit will support the work of the Cabinet committee on disability. It will have a key role in overseeing the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of disability, with a particular focus on the forthcoming new national disability strategy. It is important to ensure that the work of my Department does not duplicate others' work, rather it should further drive innovation and give momentum to policy implementation. It will also identify gaps between Departments and agencies, and promote and support cross-government, inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working for the benefit of all those with disabilities.

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