To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the provision for low cost or free leisure and social activities which meet the needs of disabled children from low income families.

There are a wide range of leisure and social activities supported by my Department that are available to disabled children from low income families.

The Libraries NI network provides accessible buildings with lifts, disabled toilets etc and provides a range of activities which are open to all children, regardless of disability including Rhythm and Rhyme for pre-school children/ families, Storytime, Craft sessions and special events such as author readings.

Library membership is free and provides all children with access to a wide range of age appropriate books and other material. Libraries provide material from Clear Vision and Access to Books, specifically aimed at children with a visual impairment and material from Barrington Stoke which is specifically aimed at children with dyslexia. Audio book and eBooks are also widely used by children with disabilities.

National Museums provides free entry for people with disabilities and their carers to the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park. During April 2014-January 2015, over 4,500 people with disabilities and carers visited the two museums. Admission to the Ulster Museum is free for all.

Arts Council supports the core costs for several Arts & Disability organisations which provide activities for young people with disabilities. These include;

Drake Music - provides access to music for people with disabilities using state of the art instruments. The organisation aims to provide free music programmes for children and young adults with disabilities as part of its 15/16 programme.

Open Arts – provides arts activities for disabled people, including young people, in music, visual arts, drama and creative writing. The organisation is working on a ‘Youth Development’ programme and has a partnership with disability organisations such as Angel Eyes and Autism NI.

Replay Theatre Company - provides children an opportunity to experience live theatre and the arts. Replay’s ‘Up’ production focuses on young audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).

Streetwise Community Circus – aims to make circus skills accessible to all communities and individuals. Streetwise has a focus on working with young people with disabilities and has established an annual ‘Circus Summer School’.

Kids in Control - this theatre company ‘values children and young people of all backgrounds and abilities, without discrimination’. The organisation runs inclusive theatre projects and has an established apprenticeship programme for young adults with disabilities.

Under the Recreation and Youth Service (NI) Order 1986, the provision of leisure services, including facilities for people with disabilities, rests in the first instance, with District Councils. However, Sport NI supports a range of interventions for people with a disability to participate in sport. These include:

•Provision of a range of pan-disability activities and opportunities through Sport NI’s Disability Mainstreaming Policy delivered by Disability Sport NI;

•An annual programme of activities delivered by Special Olympics Ireland for athletes with learning/intellectual disabilities benefitting approximately 1,700 individuals;

•Delivery of the Active Communities programme in partnership with 11 District Council consortia (benefitting approximately 12,000 people with a disability);

•In 2014/15, Sport NI invested with a variety of groups to provide free/low-cost opportunities for people with a disability to participate in sport through its small grants programme. These included groups such as Ulster Deaf Sports Council, NI Blindsport Network, Autism Initiative NI and the Coleraine & District Riding for the Disabled Association, amongst others.

Foras na Gaeilge runs a range of funding schemes which are openly advertised and available to all. When funding Campaí Samhraidh (Summer Camps) and Imeachtaí Óige (Youth Events) fees charged are monitored to ensure that these are not a barrier to participation.

The Ulster Scots Agency provides summer schemes in special schools which provide insight into Ulster Scots language, music and dance. These have taken place in Strabane, Fermanagh and Derry. Ulster Scots Music and dance schemes are also open to everyone including disabled children.

Waterways Ireland provides opportunities for children with disabilities and those from low income families to access and use outdoor recreational facilities. All mooring facilities and amenity areas are designed in accordance with both universal design standards and its Access for Disabled Persons Policy and Procedures.