Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on the meetings of the transport working group that have taken place in relation to transport and mobility schemes of relevance to persons with disabilities since January 2022 to date; the date that each meeting of this group took place; if a new transport and mobility scheme is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62483/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with responsibility for disability. Important cross-Government action to review and consider proposals for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports has been advanced through the framework of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS), and in particular in the context of Action 104 of the NDIS. The Action 104 Transport Working Group was established in 2020 to make progress in this regard.

The first meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 4 March 2020 and in it the aims and scope of the Transport Working Group were discussed. The work of the group was paused for a time as a result of the exigencies demanded by all Departments in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. From January 2022 onwards, in resuming its work, I have chaired the Transport Working Group. At the Transport Working Group’s second meeting on 26 January 2022, the Group discussed several key mobility and transport schemes. The main output of the meeting was an agreement to undertake a stocktaking exercise of State-funded mobility and transport schemes to fulfil the ‘review’ element of Action 104. The third meeting of the Transport Working Group took place on 6 September 2022. At this meeting, presentations on relevant transport and mobility schemes included in the Stocktaking Report were made by relevant departments and agencies on the Working Group. It was agreed at this meeting that the final output of the Transport Working Group to complete Action 104 would be a report containing proposals from members of the Group for the enhancement of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities going forward. This report was discussed at the Working Group's fourth and final meeting on 8 December 2022.

The discussions at the Transport Working Group have been particularly enriched by the contributions of Disability Stakeholder Group representatives, and other disability organisations, who have ensured that the lived experience of people with disabilities remains at the centre of considerations.

The Group's work is now completed, and the final report of the Transport Working Group will be finalised and published in Q1 2023. It will be incumbent on colleagues across Government with responsibility for transport and mobility supports to carefully consider how the recommendations of the Transport Working Group ought to be advanced following the completion of Action 104 and the conclusion of the NDIS in 2022.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review applications regarding the panel established to the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group; the persons or bodies that were members of the panel established by his Department; the terms of reference for deciding the person or body chosen for the panel; if this process is complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62402/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Autism Awareness Month, in April 2021, I announced the Government’s intention to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy.

The aim of the Autism Innovation Strategy is to identify bespoke challenges and barriers faced by Autistic and Neurodivergent people across Ireland and to deliver tangible solutions to address those challenges. The strategy will focus on specific areas that may not be addressed by other national strategies, such as the National Disability Inclusion Strategy or the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.

I want Autistic people, their families and supporters to be at the centre of the development process for the Autism Innovation Strategy and of monitoring implementation of the strategy once adopted.

For this reason, I launched an appointment process for the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group in June 2022. This group will play a key role in monitoring implementation of the strategy and providing oversight and critical, constructive analysis based on the lived experience and expertise of group members. This appointment process followed an initial public consultation to begin the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy in April-May 2022.

My Department received a high volume of applications and the standard was extremely high. All applications for membership of the Oversight and Advisory Group have now been reviewed and successful applicants have been notified. Members were selected through a combination of appointments from the result of a short-listing process and a smaller number of direct appointments by me as Minister, based on the desirable balance and skillset of the Group.

Shortlisted applications were assessed on the basis of award criteria that were published as part of the guidance documentation for the application process. This guidance material was also published in easy-to-read format.

During the selection process, careful attention was paid to ensuring that the group is majority Neurodiverse, and that the group is balanced and representative in terms of the different perspectives and experiences of group members. Members of the group include Autistic people, parents of Autistic children, professionals working in relevant fields and representatives of organisations with a focus on Autism.

An introductory meeting of the group took place on 14th December 2022. It is equally intended that a further public consultation process will take place in 2023 prior to the adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. This will give all interested stakeholders a further opportunity to have their say on the strategy prior to its adoption.