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

I want to echo the words of the Acting Chairperson on the role Senator Conway plays here in the Upper House. In his engagement at all times with me, as a Minister of State, on not just a single issue but a multitude of them, he is a strong and powerful advocate. I also want to wish him luck in his recent appointment to a position on a European board representing Ireland. I have no doubt but that he will fly the flag very well for persons with disabilities and Ireland. The Senator has asked three valid questions of me. It would be remiss of me not to address all three of them. I will use my time appropriately to do that.

He referred to transport and the challenges for persons with disabilities and how it is not just an urban issue but that there also is a real rural issue in this regard. When he mentioned there might be two or three services a day, I commented under my breath, "If you are lucky". It highlights the inequality for people who want to participate in education and employment. They cannot do so unless they have the tools to get to where they need to go.

We have fantastic proposals regarding transition planning out of education. Great work is going on with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, regarding the various skills levels within SOLAS to allow young people to transition. However, in the case of some people living in certain parts of rural Ireland who not have a transport mechanism, those opportunities may not come their way.

Yesterday, I met the Department of Transport, along with members of the national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, to have a conversation on transport and Rural Link regarding expanding the service and ensuring it is inclusive. I must acknowledge the role of Rural Link. Its services are 93% accessible but at the same time, that is not available everywhere. We hope that will be something we will progress. We need to acknowledge the role of the Ombudsman's recent report in that regard.

The NCBI is doing wonderful work in terms of employment for the blind and visually impaired. I am aware of the Senator's recent advocacy. The Tánaiste attended a function with him in that regard. Employment for everybody, in particular persons with disabilities, is challenging. Progressive work is being done on the comprehensive employment strategy across all Departments to ensure that Departments and semi-State organisations understand the very basics about accommodation and support for people with disabilities.

I also wish to acknowledge the work the Tánaiste's office is doing on the strategy for digital hubs and ensuring that they are completely inclusive and that persons with disabilities can work close to home and break down barriers around transport. There is a lot of good work there.

The most important issue of the day is the optional protocol. The Senator asked for a timeframe. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and I are completely committed to it. The Government and I have always been mindful of the need to able to meet and honour the obligations arising from international commitments. The ratification of the optional protocol requires progress in key areas of legislation in order that Ireland can move closer to full compliance with the UNCRPD.

Fully commencing the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is a priority for us in this regard. I sent the heads of a Bill to the on Tuesday. If the timeframe of enacting the legislation and having decision support services in place by June is met, I am looking at a parallel process to deliver on the optional protocol.