Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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394. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on assisting local authorities in meeting UNCRPD obligations in providing services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34898/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a whole-of-government strategy. It is the key framework for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland. It supports effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UNCRPD.

The Steering Group is chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D. Officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are represented on the Steering Group and report on NDIS actions under their remit, including those that relate to local government.

Local authorities play a key role in implementing the UNCRPD. Minister Rabbitte has recently spoken on this matter at the launch of a report from the Disability Federation of Ireland entitled ‘Training Local Authorities in Using the UN CRPD to fulfil their public sector human rights and equality duty’

My Department has recently begun work on the design of an Implementation Plan for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Plan will set out actions to be taken under each of the Articles of the Convention. This will provide the framework for the role of public bodies, including Local Authorities, in implementing UNCRPD.