Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a recent assertion that the national disability strategy is abject, failing to comprehensively deliver on a single area of policy or legislative reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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At the outset, can I say that I recognise that there are important issues in relation to disability on which further work is needed. With this in mind, in mid- 2015 the Department of Justice and Equality began a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, including the Disability Stakeholders Group, with a view to putting a new Inclusion Strategy in place.

The broad and comprehensive consultation process included two rounds of public consultations during which disability organisations and service providers, individuals with a lived experience of disability had an opportunity to provide detailed input, feedback and suggestions into the Strategy. I’m confident that the new Strategy will make a real difference in terms of having in place a set of wide-ranging, ambitious and achievable actions. Furthermore, the monitoring and implementation process will be fortified and tightened to ensure that Departments and agencies account for their progressing of actions at regular intervals, including through an annual implementation plan, a mid-term review, and further public consultations at the mid-term point. I am also delighted that this time the National Disability Authority will be have a strengthened role in the monitoring and reviewing of progress. I expect to be able to submit the final draft strategy to the Government in the coming weeks, and it will be published as quickly as possible thereafter.