Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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476. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on her Department’s progress on publishing its new statement of strategy. [31663/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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477. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when her Department’s statement of strategy is expected to be published. [31664/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department commenced work on developing its Statement of Strategy following the completion of the transfer of integration functions the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration and youth functions to the Department of Education and Youth. It expects to publish the Statement of Strategy during quarter 3 of 2025.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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478. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when her Department will release the National Disability Strategy. [31665/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Publication of the next National Disability Strategy is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government more broadly, and I expect it to be finalised and published shortly.

The development of the next National Disability Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and will be a milestone achievement, representing a step-change in how we deliver disability policy in Ireland. It will be Ireland's first National Disability Strategy to be published since we ratified the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018 and will be explicitly framed as an implementation plan for Ireland's advancement of its human rights obligations under the Convention.

A robust and extensive consultation process launched in late 2023 included 34 focus groups, 18 interviews, more than 80 written submissions, 484 submissions to a national survey and 5 town hall events. Feedback from consultation has coalesced around a range of thematic pillars that, collectively, will capture the spectrum of issues affecting the day-to-day lives of disabled people:

• Inclusive learning and education.
• Employment.
• Independent living and active participation in society.
• Wellbeing and health.
• Transport and mobility.

The development of this Strategy has also been substantively guided by regular ongoing engagement with key disability stakeholders, including Disabled Persons’ Organisations, disability umbrella organisations and service providers, and collaboration across government.

Development work is ongoing across government and with disability stakeholders toward finalisation of the Strategy in early course.