Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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1207. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will supply further detail on the Programme for Government commitment to provide a dedicated funding stream for assistive and digital technology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30204/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and this also encompasses the inclusion of persons in society through the use of assistive technology (AT).

Government also recognises the serious need to invest in AT due to the projected increase in non-communicable diseases and aging populations. The 2022 Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) published by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines this, stating that an estimated 3.5bn people will need at least one form of AT by 2050 compared to the estimated 2.5bn in 2025.

In March 2024, the Government entered into a €12.524m donor agreement (split evenly over a period of five years) with the WHO to strengthen equitable access to assistive technology globally, with a focus on innovation in people-centred, rights-based service delivery models and harnessing the potential of digital assistive technology (DAT).

In addition, my Department is also progressing a Project Collaboration Agreement with the WHO which is focused on domestic objectives including workforce optimisation through DAT, hosting one of two Global DAT/Workforce Expos in Dublin and the delivery of an independent Assistive Technology Capacity (ATA-C) Review. The ATA-C will evaluate Ireland’s capacity to provide equitable access to AT and was conducted by technical experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO EUROPE). This process is nearing completion, and the recommendations will submitted to Government by the WHO EUROPE in the coming months and with inform Government on best approaches to improve assistive technology access.