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📢 Reminder: Consultation on Cost of Disability Deadline Approaching Soon

The Department of Social Protection has launched a consultation on the Cost of Disability.

They want to hear your views on two topics:

1. The agenda and format for a Cost of Disability Strategic Focus Network Summit.

This will be held on the 13 May 2026, and will be a one-day event where key people and groups meet to discuss the cost of disability and help shape future strategy.

2. Your views on a cost of disability payment and how it should be designed.

📝 Submission Information

The Department would particularly like to hear from disabled people, their families and carers, their representative groups, and Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs/DPROs).

Submissions can be made in the following formats:

* Written
* Video
* Irish Sign Language
* Phone (dedicated hours and phone number available)

⏰ Deadline for submissions: 7th April 2026 (5pm)

🔗 Find full details and submission requirements here

The National Platform of Self Advocates have created a great explainer and template to support people with making a submission.

Have a look here for more information.

More updates like these over on our website www.disabilityparticipation.ie

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⏰ DEADLINE TODAY - Apply to be part of the Convention on Education and National Conversation

"The Convention on Education is a once in a generation opportunity for children, young people, parents, educators and wider society to help shape Ireland’s education system for decades to come."

The Convention will meet four times over weekends in 2026 to discuss key issues about the future of education.

The Convention will comprise 150 people across 4 groups:
* Children and young people
* Parents and guardians
* School employees and early years educators
* Education stakeholders

Recommendations from the Convention will inform a new long-term Department of Education and Youth strategy for education in Ireland.

Deadline to apply - 7th January 2026

Link: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/convention-on-education-and-national-conversation/

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Recruitment for a regional Patient and Service User Council

HSE Dublin and North East is setting up a Patient and Service User Council to represent the patient, service user and carer voice and provide advice and guidance to the region. The Council will be made of adults who have used, or supported someone else to use, health and social care services in the HSE Dublin and North East region.

The team are inviting people living in the HSE Dublin and North East region to apply. This region includes North Dublin (city and county), Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. It is important that the Patient and Service User Council is diverse. The team want people with different experiences and perspectives.

The deadline to apply is 5pm 31st October.

How to apply

You can find out more information and apply in the following ways:

• Online form: https://hse.ie/patientcouncil

• Email: Contact Fiona.odriscoll3@hse.ie to request an application form

• Phone: Call or WhatsApp 087 0680325 to apply over the phone

More information

If you have any queries or would like to apply in a different format, please contact Fiona O’Driscoll, Regional Patient and Service User Experience Lead for HSE Dublin and North East – Fiona.odriscoll3@hse.ie; 087 0680325.

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Disability Rights and the Review of the Disability Act 2005: Your Views, Your Voice Survey

Dr Shivaun Quinlivan and Dr Charles O’Mahony, Associate Professors of the School of Law, with support from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Communicating Europe Initiative 2025, are examining the Disability Act 2005 at its 20th anniversary and hosting a national conference in December 2025.

This survey will help inform that conversation and contribute to the Government’s commitment in the Programme for Government to reform the Disability Act 2005 in consultation with stakeholders. Your participation will ensure the perspectives of disabled people, families, advocates, practitioners, and other stakeholders are heard as plans for review take shape.

Deadline to take part: 7th November 2025

Take the survey here.

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ESRI Road Transport Survey

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is inviting people in Ireland to take part in a short survey about everyday road transport. The survey aims to gather diverse views to better understand how people experience transport across the country.

The survey will take about 20 minutes and there is an opportunity to enter into a raffle for a 100 euro Mastercard voucher on completion.

More information and take the survey here.

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📢 Call for Input from Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities: “Breaking the glass ceiling: equal participation of persons with disabilities in political life.”

⏰ Deadline: 31st October

Through this report, the Special Rapporteur aims to raise awareness of existing barriers and practical recommendations to ensure that disabled people have equal opportunities to stand in elections and hold public office, particularly in local and national elections.

Submissions will be posted on the Special Rapporteur’s webpage at the time of the publication of the report, except for those including a clear request not to be publicly disclosed. Only submissions received in accessible formats will be published.

📝 Submissions via email, 2000 word limit, Word and PDF versions accepted.

🔗 Find more information and details on submissions here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for-input/2025/call-inputs-breaking-glass-ceiling-equal-participation-persons-disabilities

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Healthy Ireland Framework: Public Consultation

Department of Health

Deadline: 22nd April 2026

Public consultation on the adequacy and availability of sexual health services

Joint Committee on Health

Deadline: 30th April 2026

Call for inputs: Implementation of inclusive humanitarian assistance and safeguards for the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of current humanitarian reform processes

Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities

Deadline: 30th April 2026

EU action plan for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action (GAP IV)

European Commission

Deadline: 30th April 2026

Call for comments - Draft general recommendation on gender stereotypes

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Deadline: 6th May 2026

Consultation on developing an Irish Sign Language (ISL) Curriculum

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

Deadline: 8th May 2026

National Hearing Care Plan: Public Consultation

Department of Health

Deadline: 15th May 2026

Call for inputs - Draft General Comment on the Application of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Situations of Armed Conflicts

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Deadline: 15th May 2026

Consultation on the Department of Justice (DoJ) Draft Section 75 Equality Action Plan 2025-2030 And Draft Disability Action Plan 2025-2030

Department of Justice (NI)

Deadline: 8th June 2026

Call for comments - Draft General Comment No. 38 on Article 22 (on the right to freedom of association) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

UN Human Rights Committee

Deadline: 30th June 2026

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More information and how to take part👉 https://nda.ie/monitoring/irish-sign-language/isl-act-report-2025

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