Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030, published in September 2025, sets out a whole of government approach to disability over the next five years that will achieve further progressive realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Constituting an overarching framework, the Strategy will drive a step-change in the delivery of national disability policy. Strategy commitments and actions focus on 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

I was delighted to publish the First Programme Plan of Action in December of 2025. It is the first of a total of three two-year Programme Plans of Action which will guide the Strategy’s implementation, ensuring dynamic, agile and effective delivery of all commitments and priority actions.

Covering the period to the end of this year, the First Programme Plan of Action 2025-2026 clearly sets out how the priority actions under each commitment will be delivered by various lead government departments and public bodies, the timeframe for delivery, and the success indicators by which performance will be measured.

To ensure the commitments outlined in the Strategy are met, robust delivery and monitoring structures have been co-designed with stakeholders, providing for effective oversight and accountability throughout the lifetime of the Strategy. These structures continue to be established and developed.

In line with the Strategy’s overarching whole-of-government approach, delivery on the actions and commitments under the five pillars are being led by several Government departments and public bodies as befits their remits. Pillar Groupings are being established and meetings have been convened by many of the departments identified as co-leads for each pillar. Membership of Pillar Groupings also includes representatives from other relevant government departments and public bodies, as well as disability stakeholders.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is coordinating the publication of bi-annual reports to outline progress for each commitment, with the first report being due to be presented to the next Delivery and Monitoring Committee scheduled to take place in the coming months.

I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues across government and disability stakeholders to further advance full implementation of the Strategy to improve the lives of all disabled people nationwide.