Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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474. To ask the Minister for Health to set out the status of the commitments in the programme for Government relating to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. [29820/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. These commitments include supporting people with disabilities to maximise their potential, removing barriers which impact on access to services, education, work or health-care and providing supports at key transition points in their lives. The Programme for Government also recognises that persons with disabilities should have more control in accessing services and giving them greater independence and choice to better fit their needs.

The Programme for Government is just one component of the wider Government policy in supporting persons with disabilities and cannot be looked at in isolation and the House will be aware of the forthcoming National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, which will form a key part of driving Government policy in this area. The aim of the Strategy is to significantly improve the lives of people with disabilities in a practical sense, and also in creating the best possible opportunities to allow them to fulfil their potential.

The Strategy is an all of Government approach and is broadly based around eight key themes including ensuring equality and choice, the provision of services, accommodation, health, employment, transport and education. As Chair of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, I have driven the preparation of the Strategy, including an extensive consultation process, and its recent finalisation, and I am pleased to inform the House that it is to be launched tomorrow.

I can assure the House that the Government's commitments to improving the lives of persons with disability will not end with the publication of the Strategy, and I am committed to ensuring that the Strategy results in real and concrete change for the better for children and adults with disabilities.

As it is not possible to compile the updates on each health-related disability action in the Programme for Government in the time available, I will revert to the Deputy with the information as soon as possible.