David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the responsibilities he has for disability issues and the National Disability Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27142/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, 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 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.

Under the terms of Towards 2016, the National Disability Strategy Stakeholder Monitoring Group was established in November, 2006 to monitor progress on the overall implementation of the Strategy. The Group comprises representatives of stakeholder groups, trade unions, senior officials and the National Disability Authority (NDA) while my Department also serves as Secretariat to the Group.

Key elements of the National Disability Strategy include the Disability Act 2005 and Sectoral Plans for service provision for people with disabilities. The Disability Act is the cornerstone of the National Disability Strategy and my Department played a lead role in its development and enactment.

The accessibility provisions of the Disability Act are supported by the Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by public bodies which was published in July 2006. The Code of Practice was developed by the NDA in consultation with my Department. The Act also gives statutory effect to the 3% employment target for people with disabilities in the public sector. My Department has a key role in relation to the implementation of these provisions while progress achieved by public bodies in this regard is being monitored by the NDA. Again, under the Act, a Centre for Excellence in Universal Design has been established within the NDA with the support of my Department. The Centre has an important role in contributing to the development and promotion of standards in universal design.

The NDA is concerned with the implementation of important aspects of the Strategy and works closely with my Department to meet relevant objectives.

My Department had a central role in relation to the negotiation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was adopted by a UN General Assembly in December 2006. Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign the Convention. My Department continues to have a central role in relation to the Convention's ratification process. My Department also had a central role in the development of the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan, 2006 — 2015.

My Department also funds certain accessible transport initiatives for people with disabilities, provided €6 million for an independent living support programme and provides financial support to People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI). My Department also continues to fund the Enhancing Disabilities Services Programme which was launched in 2005. The Programme comprises a funding package of €15 million over the five-year period 2005 — 2009 to support once-off projects which can demonstrate an innovative, efficient, collaborative and cost effective approach to service provision for people with disabilities. The budgetary allocation for this project is €3 million per year.

In 2007, my Department undertook a number of awareness raising initiatives, including funding two TV programmes and a National Information Day. The cost for these projects was €341,000 in 2007. My Department is continuing these projects in 2008 and the budgetary allocation for the year is in the region of €423,000.