Minister O' Gorman and Minister Rabbitte welcome the appointment ...

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, have announced details of the new membership of the Board of the National Disability Authority (NDA).

The NDA is mandated to provide advice on disability policy and practice to the Ministers; to undertake, commission and collaborate in disability research; advise on standards and guidelines in services to people with disabilities; to promote awareness of Universal Design and to assist in the development of standards and education curricula to support its adoption.

The appointments are for a four-year term and nine positions on the Board were filled following a process of inviting expressions of interest undertaken by the Public Appointments Service.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, said:

"I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the new members of the NDA, to wish them well in their future work and to thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the State.

"The expertise of the new Board will be essential in leading the Authority to deliver on its responsibilities to provide information and evidence informed advice to guide government policy and practices that are relevant to the lives of persons with disabilities, and to promote the principles of Universal Design."

Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, who has responsibility for developing and articulating government policy on improving the lives of people with disabilities, said:

"I would like to congratulate the new members on their appointment to the Board and I wish them well in their work setting the future direction of the NDA.

"Since becoming Minister of State for Disability, I have worked closely with the National Disability Authority and its Board in a number of areas crucial to the continuous advancement of the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work with the Authority in its vital role of providing advice, information, and research to government and the public sector on policy and practice relating to people with disabilities.

"There are a number of initiatives in particular that I’m looking forward to working on with the NDA over the next months and years, which I hope will help deliver real, tangible change for people with disabilities in their communities.

"In line with government policy, the work of the Authority will help to support and ensure that people with disabilities have more choice and control in how they live their lives in as full a manner as possible."

- The full list of appointments to the Board of the NDA is available on the State Boards website here

- Further information about the NDA is available here

- Further information about members of the NDA Board is available here