Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the promised delivery and monitoring committee for the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030; the membership of the committee; the timeline for when the committee will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49953/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for this question. Following on from the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 on 3rd September, Government is committed to its full delivery and implementation.

Robust delivery and monitoring structures have been co-designed with stakeholders to ensure that strong focus and consistent oversight is kept on the realisation of the Strategy’s ambition throughout its lifetime.

A Delivery and Monitoring Committee, with representation from Disabled Persons’ Organisations and other disability stakeholders, will be established in the coming months and will be responsible for directing the implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, including the development of Programme Plans of Action at appropriate intervals, and managing the national response to policy issues as they arise.

The Committee will meet twice a year, to be chaired by the Taoiseach. Through the relevant Senior Officials Group, the Department of the Taoiseach will coordinate updates from the Delivery and Monitoring Committee to the Cabinet Committee on Disability. A Disabled Persons’ Organisation Group will also be represented in the monitoring and delivery structures for the Strategy; and its Chairperson will be a member of the Delivery and Monitoring Committee.

The work of the Delivery and Monitoring Committee will be supported by a Data and Evidence Working Group, led by the National Disability Authority. In additional to the Delivery and Monitoring Committee, democratic oversight of the Strategy’s delivery will be undertaken by the Cabinet Committee on Disability, supported by the relevant Senior Officials Group and the Disability Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters will function as part of the broader political and democratic oversight of progress.

These structures will, in turn, support and complement broader infrastructure comprising the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ireland.

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline her Department's efforts to improve accessibility in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50208/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Government is committed to ensuring that disabled people are supported to live full lives of their own choosing, on an equitable basis with all others in society. The accessibility of towns and villages is very important in ensuring that disabled people can participate and thrive within their own communities. It is also complex, encompassing the provision of safe, reliable and accessible public transport, inclusive and accessible community resources, the role of local authorities in ensuring an accessible built environment and so much more, going well beyond the remit of any one department or Minister.

In fulfilment of a key commitment in the Programme for Government, I am delighted to say the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was launched and published on 3rd September.

The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 is Ireland’s comprehensive plan to advance the realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It sets out a whole of government approach to disability over the next five years. This means that Government Departments and State Bodies are responsible for planning and delivering commitments across various sectors. Acknowledging that people do not live their lives according to government departments, the Strategy will advance delivery on actions across five key thematic pillars that collectively capture the full range of issues impacting on the lives of disabled people:

• Inclusive Learning and Education
• Employment
• Independent Living and Active Participation in Society
• Wellbeing and Health
• Transport and Mobility