Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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2496. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider supporting the introduction of a 10% candidate quota for people with disabilities on party ballots, in line with the Programme for Government’s commitments to improve equality and political participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43818/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Government is wholly committed to increasing the participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of political life. This includes promoting greater active participation by people with disabilities in elections on an equitable basis as citizens.

Considerations related to the Electoral Act 1997 and provisions for the establishment of quotas on party ballots and broader political participation fall to the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Deputy will be aware that Section 17(4B) of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended by the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012, introduced a gender balance provision aimed at increasing female representation in politics. This provision introduced a requirement that in order to receive full State funding under the Electoral Act 1997, a qualified political party had to have at least 30% women candidates and at least 30% men candidates at the election. This figure rose to 40% after 26 February 2023, i.e. in order to receive full State funding following the Dáil election in November 2024, a qualified political party had to have at least 40% women and 40% men candidates at the election.

In line with the Programme for Government, my Department is finalising the new National Disability Strategy. Measures to ensure that the political system is accessible to all, on an equitable basis, have been an important consideration throughout the development of this Strategy.