Written answers

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Disability Strategy

11:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the National Disability Strategy; the number of recommendations implemented to date; the plans for further implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47425/10]

Photo of John MoloneyJohn Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The National Disability Strategy (NDS) was launched in September 2004 and, since then, having subsequently been endorsed by the Government and Social Partners in Towards 2016, its implementation has been the focus of Government policy on disability. The strategy builds on existing policy and legislation, including the policy of mainstreaming public services for people with disabilities. The key legislative elements of the NDS, providing the basis for progress in the sector, are: the Disability Act 2005; the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and the Citizens Information Act 2007.

Sectoral Plans, provided for in the Disability Act, are integral to the implementation of the NDS. They contain the service delivery and implementation arrangements of six Government Departments: Health and Children; Social Protection; Transport; Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation; and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. These Departments consult formally with stakeholder organisations on an ongoing basis on the development of the Sectoral Plans. The Plans, and reports of progress on their implementation, are available on the websites of the relevant Departments.

The progression of the NDS is being achieved in consultation and co-operation with the disability sector and its implementation is monitored rigorously by the NDS Stakeholder Monitoring Group (NDSSMG), which is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach and consists of:

· the Senior Officials Group on Disability (SOGD) - representing ten key Government Departments in terms of the provision of services, facilities and funding;

· the Disability Stakeholder Group - the body representing the sector and its organisations ;

· the National Disability Authority - the leading State agency for the sector; and

· social partners (SIPTU and IBEC).

The Renewed Programme for Government provides for an 'NDS Recession Implementation Plan' to optimise the progression of the strategy within available resources. This plan is being advanced through the SOGD in consultation with the NDSSMG and will inform the future implementation of the NDS, to which the Government remains fully committed.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47431/10]

Photo of John MoloneyJohn Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Government's intention to ratify the Convention as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are being met. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland does not tend to become party to treaties until it is first in a position to comply with the obligations imposed by the treaty in question, including by amending domestic law as necessary.

The ongoing implementation of our National Disability Strategy in many respects already comprehends many of the provisions of the Convention. In addition, the Inter-Departmental Committee on the UNCRPD monitors the remaining legislative and administrative actions required to enable the State to ratify the Convention. The Committee has developed a programme on which work is progressing to address the matters that need to be aligned with the UNCRPD. One of the key requirements in this regard is the enactment of mental capacity legislation, which is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. As indicated in the Government's Legislation Programme, it is intended that the Mental Capacity Bill will be published in the current parliamentary session.

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