The Government unveiled the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025–2030 — a landmark step towards building a more equal and inclusive Ireland. As the first strategy published since Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), it sets out a clear vision for strengthening rights and creating real change in the lives of disabled people.
The development process for the Strategy was driven by disabled people and their representative organisations. The extensive consultation process included engagement with Disabled Persons’ Organisations, interviews, written submissions, town hall events across the country, a national questionnaire and focus groups with disabled women and girls, disabled LGBTIQ+ people, disabled Travellers and Roma, and other seldom heard voices.
The launch was celebrated at Dublin’s Mansion House with significant involvement from the disabled community and their representative organisations.
Some of the flagship commitments that Government will be proud to deliver, in partnership with disabled people, over the lifetime of this Strategy are the following:
- A cross-government approach to provide better accessibility for disabled people in their everyday lives in terms of footpaths, roads, buildings and public transport.
- Better accessibility of information for disabled people, including through enhanced access to digital and assistive technologies.
- Whole-of-government solutions to Tackle the cost of disability that disabled people experience in their day-to-day lives.
- Better access to education at all levels for disabled people through a new Roadmap for Inclusive Education in Ireland and by providing tailored guidance for disabled students in schools.
- Disabled people will have more opportunities for employment with the expansion of programmes like the Work and Access Programme and a doubling of the number of Dedicated Disability Employment Advisors operating in Intreo offices.
- Disabled people will have better access to the supports they need to live independently with the development of a new National Policy on Personal Assistance.
- Disabled children and their families will have better access to the right specialist services at the right time, via improved early intervention and therapy services for children with complex needs and reduced waiting lists for both therapy services and Assessments of Need.
- Disabled people will have better access to reliable and accessible transport, including reducing the advance notice required for public transport bus and rail journeys.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin opened the event, noting that the publication of this strategy is a priority in the programme for Government. Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said: “The publication of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People represents a milestone for this Government, and I am confident it will come to be regarded as a landmark moment for the advancement of disability rights in Ireland. The commitments set out here represent an ambitious programme of work over the next five years, cutting across the full range of issues that affect a disabled person in their daily life.
“We want disabled people to be able to get a good education, a meaningful job, have access to healthcare and transport, and to participate in their community just like everyone else. Delivery of this strategy will demand a genuine and significant whole-of-Government effort. Government has been clear on the need for robust oversight structures and accountability to ensure that we deliver on the commitments we make here today. I am delighted that these are built into the strategy, supporting our efforts from the outset, and I look forward to the work ahead of us in building a more accessible Ireland for disabled people”.
Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed the launch and said: “The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People sets out a vision for the future of disability services in Ireland. It is the culmination of decades of energy and effort from disabled people, their families and communities in advocating for the human rights we are all entitled to. I am so grateful to all of the disabled people who gave of their time and expertise to shape this Strategy and to support its ambition.
“Since coming into office, Government has been clear: we want to do more, and we want to do better for disabled people. That is why this Strategy has been prioritised for publication early in our term, so that we can lead and be assured of its delivery over the lifetime of the Government. I look forward to working with colleagues in Government and with people across Ireland to realise the transformation promised in this National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People.”
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley, said: “As Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, I appreciate the commitment of our Taoiseach Micheál Martin and my government colleagues to delivering this strategy because it will require the support and co-operation of every single minister, every single department and all of society.
It is called the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People because disabled people themselves want a human rights focus in the strategy. The clear message of equality is that people with disabilities want and deserve to be treated the same as everybody else.
They have driven the development of this strategy, right down to the motto they chose themselves for it. “Equal voices, equal actions, equal futures.” I am confident this strategy will set the course for disability policy across government over the next five years, driving real change for disabled people.”
Minister of State with Responsibility 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 (Wednesday), 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.
It falls on each Government department, and each minister, to make sure that happens. No-one department or minister is responsible. We all are. It is only by matching our words and promises with action that we can earn the trust of disabled people. That is why we recognise today as the beginning of a journey together, and not the final destination.”
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney, Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, said: “I am delighted to see the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People. Disability is an issue that touches all of our lives, and this Strategy represents a real opportunity for step-change in our approach to this issue across government. It provides us with the collaborative infrastructure we need to work together more efficiently on providing joined-up services for disabled people.
As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, I am delighted that my department is taking a leading role across government on a dedicated pillar on transport and mobility. Reliable and accessible transport is absolutely vital to ensuring that disabled people are empowered to get to and from education, employment, healthcare and to enjoy their local communities on an equal basis with everyone else.
I look forward to working with colleagues across government to deliver on the actions under this Pillar and across the Strategy more broadly.”
Work has already commenced on this agenda. Robust stakeholder engagement structures will be established by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to maintain disabled people’s sustained input into policy and legislation across the Strategy, including through the establishment of a dedicated Disabled Persons’ Organisation Group that will provide detailed advice and guidance on the basis of expertise and lived experience.
Read the key commitments under the strategy here.
The Strategy is available below in a range of accessible formats here.
