Sunday, 10 May 2015
Minister of State for New Communities, Culture, Equality and Drugs Strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, today announced details of the new membership of the Disability Stakeholders Group (DSG).
“The Disability Stakeholders Group will play a central part in the development of a new Disability Inclusion Strategy to follow on from the current Disability Strategy Implementation Plan, which covers the period up to the end of this year”, said the Minister. “We have an opportunity for the first time in many years now to address the issues of concern to people with disabilities in a sustained way. We will shortly launch a public consultation process to kick start the development of the new Strategy and I look forward to working with the members in this vital task”.
The appointments are for a three-year term and are being made following an open selection process of inviting expressions of interest. The purpose of the group is to provide a forum within which disability stakeholders can work together to present one voice to Government through the National Disability Strategy Implementation Group (NDSIG) on strategic issues in relation to the National Disability Strategy.
The new group comprises 19 members and comprises both members of Disability organisations and individual members with a lived experience of disability.
The new independent chair of the group is Ms Renee Dempsey, former CEO of the Equality Authority. Secretariat support is provided by the National Disability Authority.
In announcing the appointments, the Minister thanked all the members of the outgoing Disability Stakeholders Group for their valued contribution over the past three years.
ENDS...//
Note for editors
The DSG meets approximately 6-8 times a year or as required and comprises both disability service providers and disability service users, who will bring their lived experience to bear on the work of the group
The terms of reference of the group are to:
· Work in partnership with Government Departments both at sectoral and cross- sectoral level to guide the development of a National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan;
· Focus on strategic and cross-sectoral issues in relation to the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan;
· Bring solutions to the NDSIG including actions which disability organisations could undertake to support the effective implementation of the plan;
· Assist in developing a co-ordinated input, drawing on the lived experience of people with disabilities;
· Assist in identifying actions and targets that can be realistically achieved as a three year programme of work within available resources;
· Assist in monitoring delivery against agreed targets and to bring constructive suggestions for improving implementation;
· Work together to provide advice by way of co-ordinated written and oral input; and
· Respect the independence of the Chairperson of the DSG as facilitating the input of the group to the wider NDSIG.
Membership of the new Disability Stakeholders Group
1 Adam Harris. Consultant with Aspergers Syndrome Association
2 Brian O Donnell. National Federation of Voluntary Bodies
3 Dermot Hayes. Individual
4 Donie O Leary. Disability Officer with Cork City Partnership Ltd. Ex PwDI member
5 Elaine Howley. CEO of National Council for the Blind of Ireland
6 Elaine Rogers. Senior Clinical Psychologist Brothers of Charity Services Limerick
7 Gary Lee. Centre for Independent Living
8 Hugh McGuire. Member of NCBI
9 Joe Mason. CEO of WALK
10 John Dolan. Disability Federation of Ireland
11 Kevin Kelly. Individual
12 Marian Maloney. Chair of Galway Center for Indep. Living.
13 Mark Blake Knox. Not for Profit Business Assoc.
14 Martin Naughton. Centres for Independent Living
15 Mary Corry. Rape Crisis Network Ireland. Solicitor
16 Paddy Connolly. CEO of Inclusion Ireland
17 Sarah Togher. Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE)
18 Shari McDaid. Representative of Mental Health Reform
19 Brendan Lennon. DeafHear, national organisation working with deaf and hard of hearing people