Consultation on 20-year-old Disability Act
The Government has launched a public consultation that it says will feed into a review of 20-year-old legislation on disability.
It is asking disabled people, their families, carers, and representative groups to take part to offer their insight, experience, and expertise as part of the process.
The Disability Act 2005 covers the definition of disability, the assessment-of-needs process, accessible public buildings, universal design, the use of genetic data, and employment issues.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality says that the act will be reviewed in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in 2018.
‘Important opportunity’
The UNCRPD’s aim is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.
“In the 20 years since the Disability Act 2005 was enacted, the landscape for disabled people and their families has completely changed,” said Minister Norma Foley.
“This long-awaited review is an important opportunity to improve the quality of life for disabled people, their families, and carers,” she added.
The closing date for submissions is 9 September.