Context for Strategic Plan 2010-2012

National Disability Strategy

The primary context for the NDA's Strategic Plan is the continued implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The Strategy, launched in autumn 2004, has the following core elements:

  • Disability Act 2005
  • Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004
  • Sectoral Plans on disability of six government departments, covering communications, employment, environment, health, social welfare and transport
  • A multi-annual investment programme for high-priority disability services which ran from 2005 to 2009
  • Citizens Information Act 2007, providing for a personal advocacy service

The National Disability Strategy builds on a foundation of equality legislation which bars discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and in the provision of goods and services.

The Strategy's goals for people with disabilities were set out in the Towards 2016 document:

  • Every person with a disability would have access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living
  • Every person with a disability would, in conformity with their needs and abilities, have access to appropriate care, health, education, employment and training and social services
  • Every person with a disability would have access to public spaces, buildings, transport, information, advocacy and other public services and appropriate housing
  • Every person with a disability would be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead full and independent lives, to participate in work and in society and to maximise their potential
  • Carers would be acknowledged and supported in their caring role

Structures and a reporting framework have been put in place to oversee the implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The Office for Disability and Mental Health, headed by a Minister of State, has a specific remit to develop cross-sectoral engagement across the Departments of Health and Children; Education and Science; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Justice Equality and Law Reform.

An important backdrop to the National Disability Strategy is the steady ageing of Ireland's population, with an increasing proportion of the population in the age-groups which are more vulnerable to disability. The NDA will work with the Office for Older People, which is developing a Positive Ageing Strategy, on issues of disability in old age, including the needs in old age of people who have had long-standing disabilities.

Other developments

International developments

A number of other important international developments are also taking place. The EU Commission has started working on a European Disability Strategy to succeed the current European Disability Action Plan. It will aim to assess how national actions reflect the commitments made by the European Community and the Member States to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at European level, and to consider setting consistent and comparable national targets to that end. Ireland has signed, and is working towards ratification, of the UN Convention. Ireland is also working to implement specific actions under the Council of Europe Action Plan on Disability 2006 to 2015.

Public sector transformation

The public sector is undergoing a continued process of change. Following the 2008 OECD report on the Irish public service and the subsequent Task Force report Transforming Public Service, there is now an increased emphasis on results; on value for money and use of shared services; on building partnerships and avoidance of duplication; and on performance and outcomes measurement.

The NDA continues to deliver more effective and efficient ways of working, for example, engaging in joint partnerships with other bodies to maximise the value achieved. The NDA will continue to identify opportunities for partnership on projects and activities with other relevant bodies to maximise what can be achieved with finite resources. The NDA continues in its commitment to achieve value for money and more effective use of resources.

All of these factors have been considered in developing this Strategic Plan, in setting out the Strategic Priorities and the individual objectives listed.