Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the delivery of the national disability strategy. [16413/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the National Disability Strategy, launched in September 2004, supports and reinforces equal participation in society of people with disabilities. The Strategy comprises of a number of elements, including the Disability Act 2005; the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 and the Citizen's Information Act 2007.

Under the terms of the Disability Act, six Government Departments, including the Department of Health, are required to prepare and publish Sectoral Plans, setting out the actions they will take to meet their obligations under the Act. The Department of Health and Children's Sectoral Plan was published in 2006 and was the first step in a complex process to establish a baseline for access to health services and for service delivery. In December 2009, following an extensive stakeholder consultation process, the Department finalised a Year 3 progress report. This progress report was published in February 2010, in conjunction with those of the five other Departments required to publish sectoral plans.

This report comes ahead of the finalisation of a very significant strategy and policy review currently under way in my Department - the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services. This review will inform the development of my Department's approach to fulfilling its commitments under the Strategy going forward. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year.