Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as ratified by Ireland in 2018.

In fulfilment of commitments under Article 4(3) of the UNCRPD, the consultation and stakeholder engagement processes which informed and influenced the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 were both extensive and inclusive.

The consultation was underpinned by principles of participation and aimed to be a genuine, accessible, and transparent process which meaningfully engaged with disabled people. During the consultation, the NDA and my Department proactively sought and gave due consideration and priority to the opinions and views of DPOs.

Issues and areas identified as key priorities by DPOs and other disability stakeholders during engagements with my Department in 2023 were used to inform, facilitate, and guide the consultation questions.

In addition to DPOs, people with disabilities and other disability stakeholders including families, parents, carers, and disability organisations were targeted and actively encouraged to participate in the consultation. Marginalised and seldom heard-from groups, such as disabled children and people with significant support needs were specifically included. Acknowledging the intersectionality of disability with other identities, women, migrants, Travellers, and members of the LGBTQI+ community were specifically targeted for consultation. A range of consultation activities were organised to allow different stakeholders choice in how they could engage. Consultation events were held at various times of the day, and during weekdays and the weekend.

Disability stakeholders engaged in consultation activities including:

• 34 focus group discussions involving 211 participants,
• 18 interviews with disabled individuals,
• Four large consultation meetings in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and online, including 166 attendees,
• 81 written and 4 video submissions from DPOs, disability organisations, individuals, and other interest groups,
• A national survey completed by 484 disabled people or carers, family members and supporters of people with disabilities.

All Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs) were invited to make detailed submissions on the Strategy which were given due consideration by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on an equal basis. All DPOs were also invited to attend townhall events and key stakeholder events. No individual or group, DPO or otherwise, has been excluded from disability stakeholder consultations undertaken by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

Qualitative and quantitative data were collected across consultation activities. Data were analysed to identify the challenges, barriers, actions, and solutions raised by consultation participants. The National Disability Authority has published a 196 page report on the consultation, and DPO contributions are specifically indicated in this report for easy identification and consideration by policy makers as part of the strategy development process.

The organisation referenced by the Deputy was directly invited to several town hall consultation events. It had open access to the more than 30 focus groups led by the National Disability Authority. It also received an invitation to participate in a national survey. The organisation in question was also invited to smaller, key stakeholder events and scoping engagements on the development of the Strategy.

I can assure the Deputy that submissions received from this organisation by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in relation to the development of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 have been duly considered in the development of the Strategy.

In addition the organisation was also engaged at a trilateral meeting with the Department in December 2023 and, where appropriate to its membership on representative groups, has been engaged as part of broader consultation with, for example, the Disability Stakeholder Group and the Disability Participation and Consultation Network, during the period when those Groups were in situ.

The Deputy may wish to be aware that my officials will also begin to deliver robust stakeholder engagement structures in the coming months. This organisation has been directly included in the co-design of this process and has been given opportunity to provide feedback. In line with obligations under Article 4(3), Article 29(b) and Article 33(3) of the UNCRPD, these structures will be a fundamental feature of the monitoring and delivery structures guiding the Strategy’s implementation, ensuring that it continues to be responsive to the lived experiences of disabled people and the realities of their lives.

Fundamental to the monitoring of the Strategy’s implementation will be ensuring that disabled people continue to have a voice and a role in how their rights are realised. This will support the kind of holistic, person-centred policy that is envisaged by the Strategy and the UNCRPD, more broadly. By ensuring that disabled people are represented in decision-making processes, policy will be more responsive to the lived experiences and realities of disabled people.