David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the role of his Department in relation to the National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group and its role in the overall implementation of the National Disability Strategy; the way in which the monitoring group is monitoring the roll out of services contained in the six sectoral plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27536/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Disability Strategy was launched by Government in September 2004 and underpins the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society by building on existing policy and legislation. The implementation of the Strategy is the agreed focus of disability policy under the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016.

My Department is responsible for the provision of important aspects of the framework for the implementation of the Strategy including cross-Departmental co-ordination and reports to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion on progress of the Strategy. My Department also has particular responsibility for the implementation of key provisions of the Disability Act 2005. Minister of State Dr. Jimmy Devins, TD has specialresponsibility for disability including mental health.

Under the terms of Towards 2016, the National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group was established in December 2006 to monitor progress on the overall implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The Group comprises representatives of stakeholder groups, senior officials and the National Disability Authority while my Department also serves as Secretariat to the Group. The Group has received two reports on the National Disability Strategy by senior officials of the Government Departments concerned and a further progress report is due to be submitted to the Group at the end of 2007.

A key element of the National Disability Strategy is the Sectoral Plans for service provision for people with disabilities provided for in the Disability Act 2005. Under the Act, six Government Departments prepared plans in key sectors including transport, built infrastructure, housing, training and employment, health and social welfare provision. My Department was responsible for the co-ordination of the production and presentation of the plans to the Oireachtas and for the publishing of the plans in December 2006. The Departments have provided targets and costings for the implementation of the Sectoral Plans and have established separate fora with stakeholder representatives to monitor progress on the implementation of the plans.