Live Consultations

From time to time there will be opportunities offered by various Government Departments and other organisations to make a submission or offer feedback to ongoing consultations, which are specifically relevant to disabled people and the disability sector. We aim to include these here with the relevant closing dates.

Please email us if you are aware of others that you think disabled people and organisations should be aware of.

The following are the current live consultations that we are aware of:

Government launches public consultation on Disability Act review

The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister of State for Disability, Emer Higgins, have launched a public consultation to inform a review of the Disability Act 2005. This is the first update to the Act in over 20 years.

Disabled people, their families, carers and representative groups are invited to submit their views, experiences and expertise as part of the process.

The review will examine the Act in light of Ireland's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Ireland ratified in 2018. It will also consider the Programme for Government commitment to place an autism strategy on a legislative footing.

The Disability Act covers a wide range of areas including the definition of disability, assessment of needs, accessible public buildings, universal design, employment, and the use of genetic data.

Submissions are open until 9 October 2026 and are accepted in writing (email or post), as well as audio and video format. Accessible formats are available including ISL video, Easy-to-Read, screen reader-friendly and braille on request.

Consultation events will follow later in 2026, alongside international research into good practice on embedding UNCRPD obligations into domestic law.

Find out more about the Act and submision process.

Have your say: Shaping the future of adult literacy in Ireland

Do you work to promote social inclusion or support people with unmet literacy, numeracy or digital literacy needs? SOLAS wants to hear from you.

Organisations and community groups across Ireland are invited to contribute to the mid-term review of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy — a chance to reflect on progress so far and help shape what comes next.

About the ALL Strategy

Launched in 2021, Adult Literacy for Life is a 10-year, whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategy to improve adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy across Ireland. Its goal is simple but ambitious: to ensure every adult can participate fully in society and reach their potential, while tackling the barriers that lead to exclusion, isolation and stigma.

Now at the halfway point, the strategy is undergoing an independent review to assess what's been achieved and inform the next phase of delivery. SOLAS has appointed independent consultancy Three Sixty Insights to carry out this work.

What the review will do

The review will:

assess progress against the actions set out in the strategy
identify key achievements and challenges, and consider whether the strategy's objectives, targets and measures remain fit for the years ahead
evaluate how well governance and oversight structures are supporting implementation

Why your voice matters

Input from organisations working directly with affected individuals and communities is essential. Your experience ensures the review reflects real-world challenges, priorities and insights — not just numbers on a page. Together, these contributions will help build a more inclusive Ireland where everyone has the opportunity to develop the skills they need to take part fully in society.

How to take part

Consultation is open throughout August and September 2026. There are two ways to contribute:

Join a focus group — Online focus group discussions have been scheduled across August and September. Register for the time that suits you best using the scheduling link below.

Questions?

For more information about the review, contact:

Adult Literacy for Life Office, SOLAS — adultliteracyforlife@solas.ie
Three Sixty Insights — info@threesixtyinsights.ie

Have your say: Public Consultation on the new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme

The Department of Transport is inviting stakeholders to take part in an upcoming public consultation on the new Vehicle Adaptation Scheme (VAS). This is your opportunity to help shape how the Scheme will work.

What is the Vehicle Adaptation Scheme?

The VAS is a new scheme that will provide financial support towards the cost of adapting a vehicle. It's designed for people who need help to get into, get out of, or use their vehicles, whether they're driving or travelling as passengers.

The VAS does not replace the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, which will remain under the remit of the Department of Finance.

Where things stand

The main features of the VAS were shaped by recommendations from disability policy groups and engagement with stakeholders, and were approved by Government in July 2026.

Some details of how the Scheme will operate and be administered are still being finalised. The public consultation will help inform these decisions.

How you can take part

When the consultation opens, you'll be able to make a formal submission sharing your views, experiences and suggestions. Your input will help shape the final design of the Scheme.

Expected to open: by the end of September 2026
Duration: six weeks
Aim: to make sure the VAS provides practical support that is fair, effective and responsive to the needs of the people who will use it.

Dates are subject to final preparations.

What happens next

The Department will be in touch again soon with full details of the consultation and information on how to make a submission.

Questions? Contact VAS@transport.gov.ie

Minister Burke launches national consultation on accessible and inclusive tourism

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD launched Fáilte Ireland's national consultation on Accessible and Inclusive Tourism.

Through the 'Your Voice, Your Journey' Visitor Consultation, people across Ireland are invited to share their experiences of accessible and inclusive tourism and help inform the future development of tourism across the country.

The consultation will gather insights across areas including trip planning, transport, accommodation, attractions and visitor experiences.

The consultation will be open until 29 October, and people are encouraged to take part and share their experiences. Survey materials are available in a range of accessible formats. Further information and survey details are available on the Fáilte Ireland accessible and inclusive tourism survey webpage.