Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1843.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the ongoing research and planning being carried out under the recently signed World Health Organisation agreement on the development of assistive technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32357/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Global Lead Agreement on Digital Assistive Technology (DAT) between the Government of Ireland and the World Health Organization (WHO) commenced at the start of Q2 2024. This agreement will see Ireland become a global leader in the area of DAT, in order to strengthen equitable access to assistive technology.

Assistive products have a primary purpose of maintaining or improving an individual’s functioning and independence, which in turn benefits their wellbeing. DAT is the application of organized knowledge and skills related to assistive products, including systems and services.

The agreement is still in its initial months of a 5 year programme, however, I have been advised that the WHO have completed several initial highlight activities in progressing the DAT agenda under the agreement.

These include:

• a Multi-country workshop hosted by WHO EURO Region with participation from six low- and middle-income countries in the European region, focusing on assistive technology system strengthening with an emphasis on solving procurement and supply chain challenges;
• a joint Ireland-WHO United Nations side event held at the UNCRPD Conference of State Parties which highlighted the importance of inclusion of persons with disability in all health care and the need for equitable access to assistive technology and;
• a joint WHO-Ireland side event with the Governments of Bangladesh and Antigua and Barbuda held during the 2024 High Level Political Forum in New York, on integrating progress on improving access to assistive technology in Member States’ Voluntary National Reporting on Sustainable Development Goal progress.