Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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1909.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children in the CHO7 area currently waiting to access therapies by the CDNT, by category of therapy, in tabular form. [32980/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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1910.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps his Department is taking to recognise hidden disabilities; if it will work with one of the schemes (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33021/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister for Disability, disability inclusion is a central concern across the work of my Department.

It is vital that we ensure that people with disabilities, including those with a hidden disability, feel empowered to participate fully in society and that no one is left behind. It is important to note that the definition of disability under the Disability Act 2005 is deliberately not impairment specific. The Act instead interprets disability as meaning a “substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability”.

This definition takes a broadly functional approach to disability, recognising that an individual's specific circumstances, societal barriers, and medical history will all have an impact on the extent to which a person is or is not "disabled". This is in line with the social model approach to disability set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It also provides a more flexible definition to practitioners where specialised health needs arise that is not tied to a prescriptive list of conditions - which runs the risk of inadvertently excluding people from recognition or supports.

Initiatives such as those noted by the Deputy do important work in advocating for those with hidden disabilities and raising awareness. These schemes create tools for someone to voluntarily share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that they may need space or support. They are important instruments of self-advocacy as we work to build a more understanding, disability-aware and accessible society.

Building on this work, and led by my Department, work is ongoing across government for the development and delivery of key strategies that will address accessibility as a central concern, including for those with hidden disabilities. The Autism Innovation Strategy will aim to identify and address the bespoke challenges that autistic people face in their daily lives. It is my ambition that it will provide the building blocks for a society that is more neurodiverse-friendly and inclusive of people with invisible or hidden disabilities. This will be launched in the coming weeks.

Work is also underway across government to for the development of the National Disability Strategy which will advance the implementation of the UNCRPD. This strategy will provide a blueprint for the genuine advancement of the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland and will take accessibility and inclusion for all as important considerations.