Newsletter Special Edition | May 2014
Issued on May 1 2014
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Summary
The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) understands that the implementation of the National Disability Strategy is a critical measure to ensure that people with disabilities can access their civil and social rights. Over the years, we have made substantial time and effort to ensure the National Disability Strategy (NDS) is not just a visionary document, but instead creates meaningful changes in the lives of people with disabilities. DFI is acutely aware of the importance of ongoing reviews, involving critical and independent evaluation, to ensure that legislation and policies are implemented effectively. We therefore led a campaign from early 2009, with the support of the Disability Stakeholder Group (DSG) members and others, to get the Government to put an NDS Implementation Plan in place to protect and advance the Strategy throughout the economic downturn. Despite a target date of May 2012, serious delays meant that it was not until July 2013 that the Minister for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People, Ms. Kathleen Lynch, TD, published the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan 2013 – 2016 (NDSIP); DFI lobbied consistently throughout that time to achieve this.