Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities and Monitoring Committee on the Report of the Commission - Ireland

Source: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities was established on 29 November 1993. Its main terms of reference were to advise the Government on practical measures necessary to ensure that people with a disability can exercise their rights to participate, to the fullest extent of their potential, in economic, social and cultural life; to examine the current situation of people with disabilities and the organisation and adequacy of existing services to meet their needs; to make recommendations setting out necessary changes, in legislation, policies, organisation, practices and structures to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities are met in a cohesive, comprehensive and cost effective way.

The Commission engaged in the most comprehensive examination of the situation of people with disabilities in the history of the State. It held 30 public “Listening Meetings” at accessible locations throughout the State where people with disabilities, families and carers were given an opportunity to give their views of the issues affecting their lives and received over 600 written submissions. Its Report was published on 18 November 1996.

The Monitoring Committee on the Report of the Commission which oversees the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations was established in April 1997.

Its terms of reference are:

• to advise the Inter-Departmental Task Force on the prioritisation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities;
• to provide any assistance and support required by the Task Force to facilitate the preparation of the Action Plan on the Rights of People with Disabilities;
• to advise and make proposals to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform;
• to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities which have been accepted by Government.

Inter-Departmental Task Force Following the publication of the Report

The Inter-Departmental Task Force was established, chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to draw up a Plan of Action on the rights of people with disabilities, based on the Report. It is also considering the Report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, which was published by the Department of Health in December 1996, in conjunction with the Health recommendations of the Commission.

One of the most important aspects of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities was the fact that 60 per cent of its members were people with disabilities, their carers or family members.

The Monitoring Committee on the Report of the Commission comprises organisations representing people with disabilities, people with disabilities, their families and carers as well as service providers, social partners and government departments.

The Inter-Departmental Task Force Following the publication of the Report is comprised, in the main, of those Government Departments on whom the Report mostly impacts.

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