Strategy for disabled will help over 30,000 people in Mayo
The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was launched today. The strategy outlines a “whole-of-government approach” to disability, with clear actions for departments, agencies and local authorities to deliver over the next five years.
Minister of State and Mayo TD, Alan Dillon, welcomed the launch and described it as a “transformative step forward” for the 30,070 people in Mayo who report living with some form of disability.
“This strategy is about delivering real change,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that disabled people in Mayo have the support they need to live full, independent lives with equal access to services, opportunities, and community life.”
The new strategy aims to capture the range of issues that impact the daily lives of disabled people and sets out five thematic pillars: inclusive learning and education, employment, independent living and active participation in society, wellbeing and health and transport and mobility.
The strategy was developed in close consultation with disabled people and relevant representative organisations.
Key actions set out in the strategy include an increase in therapists and other professionals across the health service and education system, alongside a commitment to boost the supply of specialist disability housing.
There will also be a strong focus on accessibility in everyday life. Walkability audits of towns and cities will be carried out, leading to the development of accessible route maps to help people with mobility issues travel more easily to work, education facilities and leisure activities.
Public spaces will be made more accessible, while public transport will be adapted to ensure it can be used by all. Disabled people will also be consulted on an expansion of the Safe Routes to School initiative, aimed at making journeys safer for young disabled people.
The strategy will also ensure that public transport is accessible for all, and disabled people will be consulted regarding an expansion of the Safe Routes to School initiative in order to make travel safer for young disabled people.
The strategy further commits to creating more opportunities for disabled people to secure employment in the public sector, ensuring greater participation and representation across society.
“What will be very important to the success of this strategy will be Government departments and Fine Gael public representatives, whether councillors or the Fine Gael Disability Champions, TDs and Senators and ministers, working with each other to drive, implement, and share best practice,” concluded Minister Dillon.
The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People will be rolled out in three Programme Plans of Action: 2025-2026, 2027-2028 and 2028-2030. The first programme plan, due three months after the strategy’s publication, will detail key performance indicators for the commitments outlined.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.