To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the ways in which her Department supports statutory bodies, which are designated public authorities in their own right, to produce their own Disability Action Plans.

Under Section 49B of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, public authorities are required to produce a disability action plan showing how they propose to fulfil the disability duties in relation to their functions. It is the responsibility of each of the Department’s Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) to develop their own Disability Action Plan (DAP) in relation to their functions.

When the statutory duty to produce a DAP was first introduced in 2007 the Department’s Equality Unit hosted a meeting of ALB Equality Officers to provide initial advice and guidance on the development of their plans.

The Department’s Research and Statistics branch produces regular statistical bulletins on a number of areas of DCAL’s business, including sport, arts, museums, libraries, angling and inland waterways, which present analysis by Section 75 groups, including those who have and do not have a disability. In addition, Sponsor Branches carry out audits of inequalities. The statistical bulletins and the audit can be used to inform the development of the DAPs of our ALBs.

As part of the Department’s sponsorship and governance arrangements with its ALBs the disability duties are discussed at accountability meetings as necessary and are also included in the assurance statements completed by ALBs ensuring regular engagement on the matter.