Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he proposes to address issues affecting persons with disabilities, whether in relation to access to jobs, housing or social services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15678/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland currently has two major whole-of-government national disability strategies, which exist to address the challenges and break down the barriers faced by people with disabilities. Both are coordinated by my Department and constitute a strategic policy and action framework for acting on disability issues, in consultation and collaboration with people with disabilities, other disability experts, family members, disability organisations and disabled persons organisations.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017-2022 includes measures to support people with disabilities in all aspects of their lives. The Comprehensive Employment Strategy is focused on providing equal opportunities for access to fair employment and retention of employment.

The NDIS is a key framework for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland. The Steering Group drives and monitors progress across the Strategy and is chaired by Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte T.D. and includes representatives of several Government Departments and Agencies and the Disability Stakeholder Group (DSG).

The NDIS specifically supports effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), where Government's policy is one of progressive realisation, each year moving forward on key reforms, with the obligations arising from the Convention being met over time. Initial priority has been given to meeting legislative commitments.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024 (CES) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. The CES's strategic priorities are to build skills, capacity and independence, to provide bridges and supports into work, to make work pay, to promote job retention and re-entry to work, to provide co-ordinated and seamless supports and to engage employers.

Implementation of the Strategy is undertaken through agreed action plans and is monitored by an Implementation Group with an independent chairperson, Mr Fergus Finlay. Currently the group is developing a final Action Plan for the period 2022 – 2024.

Both of these strategies provide an ongoing, coordinated and holistic platform for addressing issues affecting persons with disabilities whether in relation to access to jobs, housing or social services, with actions in each Strategy targeted at these and other areas of significance. Both I and my colleagues in Government are committed to continuing to drive progress under the Strategies.