Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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165. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 16 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38481/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to ensuring the promotion of accessibility and universal design principles with regard to all aspects of our public service delivery. My Department’s forthcoming ICT Strategy 2021-2025 will ensure accessibility is a priority in the development of new ICT services and systems, including assistance for colleagues with disabilities. Similarly, the Department takes its obligations in relation to web accessibility, including online service delivery, very seriously, and we are committed to meeting the requirements as set out in S.I. No. 358/2020 – European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020. Regular reviews of our websites is carried out to monitor progress and quality in this regard. We strive to achieve AA standard under WCAG 2.1 Guidelines.

Through our dedicated websites, my Department also provides users with the opportunity to directly contact the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer should they require support in accessing any service. Service users can also use this platform to provide feedback/complaints to the Disability Liaison Officer on any aspect of the delivery of our services. When communicating with the public, my Department follows the recommendations of the National Adult Literacy Agency in using plain language and has staff trained in delivery of services through Irish Sign Language. When completing a Passport Online application, a specific option is also available for applicants to select if they have difficulties, for example supplying a passport photo that meets our requirements, for instance in the case of a disability that makes it difficult to get a passport photo taken.

Lastly, my Department rolled out comprehensive disability awareness training to all staff in March 2021. This training will further assist with raising awareness of disabilities and the importance of accessibility and universal design in all areas of my Department’s work.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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166. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are implementing Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38510/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all its employment practices and in the delivery of its services in line with the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015, Equal Status Acts 2000-2018, Disability Act 2005 and the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. My Department is also guided by the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service. Through the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer my Department continues to engage with relevant organisations, in particular with the National Disability Authority, Ahead, and AsIAm, amongst others, to ensure best practice in the employment of people with disabilities and in the delivery of services to members of the public.

Through our dedicated websites, my Department provides users with the opportunity to directly contact the Department’s Disability Liaison Officer should they require support in accessing any service. Service users can also use this platform to provide feedback/complaints to the Disability Liaison Officer on any aspect of the delivery of our services. When communicating with the public, my Department follows the recommendations of the National Adult Literacy Agency in using plain language. The Passport Office was previously the recipient of a NALA award for the use of plain English. My Department has also ensured that a number of staff working in the Passport Office are trained in Irish Sign Language to meet our obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017.

My Department also attaches the highest priority to ensuring the Department’s buildings at home and abroad are accessible to people with disabilities and the Department’s next Property Strategy, currently in development, will privilege universal access. Most recently, my Department engaged a specialist access consultant to audit the Passport Office on Mount Street and to report back on the conditions of its accessibility. AsIAm were also hired to conduct a sensory audit of the same office. The reports and recommendations are being considered by my Department’s Property Management Unit.

As part of our commitment to increase disability awareness amongst staff as set out in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, my Department recently launched a comprehensive online Disability Awareness Training programme for all staff. This training complements training provided to staff engaged in the delivery of services to members of the public and was facilitated by an external consultant with extensive experience in area of disability awareness and training. On successful completion of the course, officers receive a Certificate of Completion which is valid for two years under the Disability Act 2005.

The Department will continue its efforts to improve the delivery of its services to all members of the public into the future, consulting with relevant stakeholders throughout.