Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Taoiseach the number of the seven external experts appointed or to be appointed to the new disability unit in his Department that have lived experience of disability in Ireland. [36919/25]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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A disability unit is being established in Department of the Taoiseach. The unit is supporting the work of the Cabinet Committee on Disability. It is also supporting the work of the Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality and other Ministers in driving cross-government, inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working and collaboration to improve the lives of people with disabilities and enable them to achieve their potential.

A work programme for the unit is currently being finalised which will inform the overall resources and staffing required for the unit. This will be published shortly.

The Unit will engage with stakeholders through Departmental and Agency-led sectoral stakeholder groups, maintaining a clear and consistent connection to the realities faced by disabled people. The forthcoming National Disability Strategy will also embed a robust framework for supporting stakeholder engagement across Government. Utilising this and other existing structures, it is intended that there will be significant opportunities to continue to hear from, and engage with, experts and stakeholders on disability matters.