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

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I know it is an issue she is continuously working on and trying to progress so it is great to have the opportunity to provide the House with an update. The transport working group was established in 2020 to support work action No. 104 of the national disability inclusion strategy, NDIS, the whole-of-government strategy which is tasked with tackling a wide variety of issues across society. Action No. 104 of the NDIS commits us to lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities and to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities. We will develop proposals for development of a co-ordinated plan for such provisions. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources.

The transport working group's work was paused to prioritise initial responses to the pandemic, while the work of the main NDIS steering group continued. I made a commitment to reconvene the working group and it met on 26 January. I chaired that meeting.

Following engagement last summer between the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, it was decided to use the existing transport working group to progress a review of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme.That scheme is designed by the Department of Finance and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has already committed to reviewing that scheme. The group's membership is made up of relevant Departments and State agencies which have a role in the provision of transport for people with disabilities with a particular focus on transport to enable access to employment. Members include officials from both of my Departments, namely, the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, along with the National Disability Authority, the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Transport with the National Transport Authority. The County and City Management Association is also represented. To put it in context, I have left nobody out. I brought everybody back into the fold because it has to be a whole-of-government, cross-departmental working group to ensure we get delivery for persons with a disability. It is not just a rural or an urban issue. It is about accessibility, inclusion and participation. While I reference work there, I also reference education. In her contribution Senator McGreehan talked about the social outlet. That is equally as important as access to work or education. Everybody has a right to participate.

I am pleased to say that there is involvement from all stakeholders on the group, and representatives from the disability stakeholder group, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland were also in attendance. As the House knows, consultation with stakeholders is a key element of the implementation of the UNCRPD and I look forward to hearing its views and input as the work of the group develops and continues. This group will meet every three months. It is not that it meets and is a talking shop. It is based on actions. Everybody knows his or her own actions within it.

At January's meeting, Department representatives presented on the transport support schemes they are responsible for and we heard views and concerns from the stakeholders. Members have agreed an initial work programme to include a stock take of the current and, indeed, previous transport support schemes in operation. I have also asked it to consider what worked well in the past, what currently works well, ruling nothing in and putting everything on the table. It is clear that a variety of measures and supports exists across government but we must make sure action is co-ordinated across the system and addresses the real needs of people with disabilities. The ongoing work of the group will be co-ordinated by my officials who will also draft terms of reference for discussion at the next meeting.