Mayo TD hosts strategic focus network summit on cost of disability
The Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary hosted a Strategic Focus Network Summit on Cost of Disability, engaging with disabled people, their representative groups and other stakeholders.
This Summit is a key commitment under the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2026 which was developed with significant input from Disability groups and advocates and published by the Government last September. The strategy adopts a whole-of-Government approach to advancing the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Summit follows a public consultation process on the Cost of Disability which saw over 1,000 submissions received.
There were 150 people at the event with many more joining online. Attendees at the in-person event included Disabled Person Organisations, Disabled Persons Representative Organisations, Advocacy and Membership Bodies, Government Ministers, members of the Oireachtas, academics, and representatives from several Government Departments.
Minister Calleary said: “The Summit is a really important event which I was delighted to host today. We all know that disabled people face additional costs in their daily lives. It was so important to hear about peoples lived experience today. I want to thank everyone who took the time to make a submission to the consultation process or to attend the Summit today whether in-person or on-line.
“We have collated a lot of really useful insights which will help us greatly as we move forward in designing a cost of disability payment and looking at other measures which can reduce costs for people.”
The Summit included a panel discussion with Disabled Person’s Organisations on the lived experience of the additional costs faced by disabled people.
In the breakout sessions there were discussions across the five pillars which underpin the strategy: Inclusive Learning and Education; Employment; Independent Living and Active Participation in Society; Wellbeing and Health; and Transport and Mobility.