Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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582. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of funding a national advocacy service for people with disabilities in 2023 indicating the cost of a youth advocacy programme and adults including the inclusion of psychosocial disabilities in the advocacy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23135/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Government currently provides support to the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities through funding and support from the Citizen's Information Board, which is itself a body under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.

The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities provides an independent, confidential and free, representative advocacy service that works to ensure that when life decisions are made, due consideration is given to the will and preference of people with disabilities and that their rights are safeguarded.

Specific questions regarding funding for the National Advocacy Service and the exact activities supported would be more appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.

For my part, I am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities are supported to live the lives that they want to and are provided equal opportunity to do so and recognise the importance of self-advocacy in this regard.