Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 19, 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 a specific focus on children’s disability services and disability services more generally under the forthcoming new national disability strategy. The Cabinet committee on disability last met on 5 June – a few days ago - and is due to meet again on 7 July.

Under the programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a step change in disability services. To deliver on this, I have established a stand-alone Cabinet committee on disability. This 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. The unit supports the work of the Cabinet committee on disability. It also supports the work of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley, and other Ministers in driving cross-government work and collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities and to enable them to achieve their potential. A work programme for the unit is currently being finalised which will inform the overall resources and staffing required for the unit. A ministerial meeting and three Cabinet committee meetings have been held to date, in addition to broader cross-government engagement on the finalisation of the next disability strategy.

It is important to ensure the work of my Department does not duplicate others. Rather, it should further drive innovation via troubleshooting getting things done, give momentum to policy implementation and improve delivery of services. In recent times, we have focused on the provision of a national in-school therapy service. We have made very good progress on that and we hope to be in a position to start this in the forthcoming academic year. We are also working on a whole range of other transport and mobility issues. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport, Deputy O’Brien, about these matters and I am working with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to bring them to a conclusion.

The Department of Social Protection recently announced enhancements to the wage subsidy scheme to increase participation rates. Our last Cabinet subcommittee meeting focused on the issue of assessment of need and the national school in-therapy service as well as respite and residential care.

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