Introduction

Under the Disability Act 2005, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, along with five other Government Ministers, is preparing and proposes to publish a Sectoral Plan in relation to disability matters specified in the Act.

The Sectoral Plan must be finalised and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by July 28th, 2006.

Definition of Disability

The definition of Disability is that set out in Section 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which states that:

‘“disability”, in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction
in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or
occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in
the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health
or intellectual impairment;’

Development of the Sectoral Plan:

In the preparation of this Draft Plan, the Department consulted widely with the Disability Sector through its participation in a series of regional seminars and workshops in the summer of 2005. Those events were organised by the National Disability Authority (NDA) as a means of creating an informed discussion on the six Sectoral Plans being produced under the Disability Act, 2005.

The deliberations on the Draft Plan have also benefited greatly from the input received from the Disability Legislation Consultation Group and the National Disability Authority. A wide-ranging public consultation process has also assisted in the formulation of the Plan.

Review of the Plan:

In this Plan, the Department has set targets for improving the range of accessible services in the sectors under its aegis. These targets are built on the assumptions that the economic and financial conditions that currently prevail will continue into the future. Accordingly, the finalised Plan will be reviewed every three years and amended and updated as necessary.