New strategy will deliver real change for 30,000 disabled people in Mayo

Minister of State and Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has welcomed the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030, describing it as a transformative step forward for the 30,070 people in Mayo who report living with some form of disability.

“This strategy is about delivering real change,” Minister Dillon said. “It’s about ensuring that disabled people in Mayo have the supports they need to live full, independent lives with equal access to services, opportunities, and community life.”

The strategy, published by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Disability Hildegarde Naughton, outlines a whole-of-government approach to disability, with clear actions to be delivered by departments, agencies, and local authorities over the next five years.

Minister Dillon said: “More than one in five people across the country and 30,070 in Mayo, report living with some form of disability, and many disabled people and their families are waiting too long for services and are frustrated with a system which has failed many.

“We know that investment in specialist services and therapies is part of the solution, which is why the government is recruiting therapists, reforming the assessment of needs process, opening special classes, and has established the new Education Therapy Services, to deliver therapies in special school.

“We know that much more needs to be done, particularly in the areas of housing, respite, increased provision of day services and access to employment and transport.

"That is why the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People is so important.

"Developed in close consultation with disabled people and their representative organisations, it sets out what we need to do over the coming years to assist disabled people in living full and independent lives on the same basis as all other citizens.”

Minister for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton said: “This strategy would not be so ambitious without the input and determination of disabled people and their representative organisations who have given so generously of their time in its development.

"From today, we get to work on delivery and implementation. Disabled people are often prevented from enjoying the same opportunities as other citizens across a range of areas including education, transport, and participation in community life.

“This is a reality and a lived experience that we must acknowledge. But it is not a reality that I, as Minister for Disability, accept. We must change how we do things and give disabled people the same rights and opportunities as every other citizen. That is why this strategy is so important.”

The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 sets out a whole of government approach to disability over the next five years and sets out key actions to be delivered by government departments, State agencies, and local authorities.

The five thematic pillars of the strategy collectively capture the range of issues impacting on the lives of disabled people. They are: Inclusive learning and education; employment; independent living and active participation in society; wellbeing and health; transport and mobility.

Key actions in the strategy include: Increasing therapists and other professions for our health service and education system; completion of walkability audits of towns and cities to allow for the development of accessible route maps, supporting people with mobility issues to travel to work, leisure and education; increasing the supply of specialist disability housing; ensuring that public transport is accessible, and expanding the safe routes to school initiative in consultation with disabled people, to make travel safer for young disabled people; increasing opportunities and access for disabled people to get work in the public sector; increasing access for disabled people to public spaces."