Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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480. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the role that local authorities will have in implementing the new National Human Rights Disability Strategy; if the local authorities will be resourced to implement actions included in the strategy at local level; the method by which local authorities will co-ordinate local level delivery of the strategy with national level target; whether each local authority will be required to develop a process of consultation, co-design and co-delivery of the strategy with people with disabilities; if so, how will they be supported in doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40285/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As outlined in the Programme for Government, the delivery and resourcing of a new National Disability Strategy is a key priority for this Government

The development of the Strategy is now at a very advanced stage with publication due in the coming months. Constituting a whole-of-government approach to advancing Ireland’s implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), as ratified by Ireland in 2018, a key role is envisaged for local government in delivering several actions under the Strategy.

The design and development of the Strategy has been substantially influenced by a wide-ranging national consultation process undertaken by my Department, regular extensive engagement with key disability stakeholders, and ongoing engagement with government colleagues. It is important to note that under the Disability Act 2005, measures to be taken to facilitate access by persons with disabilities to services provided by local authorities are principally a matter for the local authority in question and under the broader remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

My Department has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as well as the Local Government Management Agency and the City and County Managers Association to ensure that the Strategy has a strong focus on the role of local authorities in advancing the commitments and priority actions of the Strategy relating to accessibility and inclusion for disabled people in their local communities.

In line with Programme for Government commitments, my Department is currently involved in the development of robust and comprehensive structures that will provide for disability stakeholders’ input and oversight on the National Disability Strategy’s implementation. A core consideration has been on ensuring that these structures will enable comprehensive stakeholder engagement across government, at local and national level, in fulfilment of our obligations under the UNCRPD to closely consult with and actively involve disabled people and their representative organisations in policy making, oversight and implementation.

Consultation on these structures has included the perspectives of key stakeholders, including Disabled Persons’ Organisations, with the aim of ensuring that these stakeholder engagement structures will support effective consultation, as well as progress and accountability on the delivery of the new National Disability Strategy at both national and local levels.