Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if €100,000 of funding will be included in his final budget preparations from an equality perspective for the roll-out of the just a minute card which helps persons with disabilities to navigate public transport and shops by signalling that the holder needs to be afforded some patience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48062/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Just a Minute Card is a tool that was introduced in Northern Ireland to allow people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to tell others they need ‘Just A Minute’ in a discrete and effective non-verbal manner.

In respect of the Deputy's query concerning the provision of funding for such a scheme in this jurisdiction, the Department of Justice and Equality does not provide funding for disability related services or initiatives. This is a matter for individual Departments based on their areas of responsibility. As the initiative the Deputy refers to is related to accessible public transport services, the introduction of such a scheme and the provision of funding for same falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I will forward this request to him for consideration.