Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 2 June 2022, the expected timeframe for the conclusion of the review of existing transport schemes for disabled persons including the drivers and passengers with disabilities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30210/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Transport Working Group of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) commits that a review will be conducted of existing transport schemes, and a coordinated plan will be developed to enhance the options for transport to work or employment for people with disabilities.

Following engagement from my colleague the Minister of Finance Paschal Donohoe T.D. last year, it was decided to use the Transport Working Group to assist with the review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme. However, legislative and budgetary responsibility for the scheme continues to lie with the Department of Finance, in the same manner that responsibility for the parameters and delivery of all transport measures and schemes operated by members of the Review Group continue to lie with the relevant department or agency. In that sense, any decision regarding the parameters of the Disabled Drivers and Passenger Scheme is ultimately a matter for the Minister for Finance.

I chaired the most recent meeting of the Transport Working Group at the end of January 2022. The current focus of the Group's work is on scoping the provision of transport supports across government departments and public bodies, with a view to assessing gaps or anomalies in provision. Following the January meeting my Department requested information from Group members on the array of transport measures and supports currently being provided. A substantive amount of material was received which is presently analysed and a further meeting of the Group will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1196. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the membership of the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30211/22]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1197. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if disabled persons organisations are represented on the national disability inclusion strategy transport working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30212/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1196 and 1197 together.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is one of two national policy frameworks through which the rights of people with disabilities are advanced in Ireland. Implementation of the NDIS is monitored by the NDIS Steering Group, which I chair.

A Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to drive Action 104 of the NDIS but its work was paused to prioritise initial responses to the pandemic, while the work of the main NDIS Steering Group continued. Action 104 of the NDIS commits that a review will be conducted of existing transport schemes, and a coordinated plan will be developed to enhance the options for transport to work or employment for people with disabilities.

The Transport Working Group's membership is made up of relevant Government Departments, State Agencies and the Disability Stakeholder Group (DSG).

Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) are represented in the DSG, the membership of which was formed on foot of an open call for applicants. Alongside DPO representatives, the DSG membership includes persons with expertise of disability including lives experience and experts by experience, civil society organisations, and persons with academic expertise.

A list of the members of the Transport Working Group is outlined below:

- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

- National Disability Authority

- Department of Social Protection

- National Transport Authority

- Department of Health

- Health Service Executive

- Department of Transport

- Department of Finance

- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

- Revenue Commissioners

- Local Government Management Authority

- Irish Wheelchair Association

- Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland

- Disability Stakeholder Group