Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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674. To ask the Minister for Health the budget set aside for the roll-out the three-year action plan for the NDS from 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24626/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Department of Health works on a cross-sectoral collaborative basis with other Government Departments on national policies for adults and children with a disability. Disability is not a health issue, nor is it an education issue, or employment issue. It is an equality issue.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017 – 2021, 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 that it will make a significant difference over its lifetime to the position of people with disabilities in Irish society.

The Strategy contains eight themes as follows:

- Equality and Choice;

- Joined up policies and public services;

- Education;

- Employment;

- Health and Wellbeing;

- Person centred disability services;

- Living in the Community; and

- Transport and Accessible Places.

Underpinning these themes are a set of high level objectives, and 114 measurable and time-specific actions that relate to the areas of education, employment, provision of public services, health, transport, and personal safety and autonomy.

The Department of Justice and Equality has lead responsibility for the NDIS. The Strategy is a cross-government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and State agencies including:

- Department of Education and Skills;

- Department of Health;

- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection;

- Health Service Executive;

- National Disability Authority;

- Department of Housing, Planning  and Local Government;

- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport;

- National Transport Authority; and

- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The focus in the Strategy is on better coordination and use of existing resources. The key issue in relation to the implementation of the Strategy is the coordination of all departmental efforts in this area by the Department of Justice and Equality.