Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

733. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the new national disability strategy has not been implemented to date. [26998/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In mid 2015, following the expiry of the previous implementation plan, the Department of Justice and Equality embarked on a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, with a view to putting a new National Disability Inclusion Strategy in place. The broad and comprehensive consultation process included three rounds of public consultations during which disability organisations, service providers and individuals with a lived experience of disability had an opportunity to provide detailed input, feedback and suggestions into the Strategy. The process concluded at the end of 2016, and while getting to this point has taken longer than we had hoped, the Strategy will be launched imminently, following the Government Decision of 30 May 2017 to approve publication. The Strategy will run from 2017 - 2021, and takes a whole of Government approach to improving the lives of people with disabilities both in a practical sense, and also in creating the best possible opportunities for people with disabilities to fulfil their potential. It is intended to make a significant difference over its lifetime to the position of people with disabilities in Irish society.