- In this first year of the Fund, €2.5 million will be made available to local authorities to implement opportunities for people with disabilities to partake in activities at local level and to remove barriers to community involvement.
- Grants of up to €80,000 will be allocated to local authorities to fund their own projects, or to support those of partner community organisations.
- The deadline for applications by local authorities is 3pm Monday 8th November.
The Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D., today announced €2.5 million in funding under the first year of a new annual Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF).
The purpose of DPAF 2021 is to provide funding for Local Authorities across Ireland to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities, to help remove barriers to community involvement, and to support the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in communities.
A total of €2.5m will be made available in 2021 to Local Authorities to carry out projects in their local area. Grants under the Fund will be to a maximum of €80,000.
This funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and short to medium term projects. Projects and initiatives should promote the rights of people with disabilities by removing barriers to the participation of people with disabilities in their local communities, raising awareness of the UNCRPD, and increasing accessibility.
Local authorities can use this fund directly, or in partnership with local organisations, in order to carry out actions that will:
- Remove barriers to, and improve the accessibility of community life or community activities, for people with disabilities
- provide funding to networks and clubs at local level to expand the involvement and participation of people with disabilities in their activities
- promote awareness, understanding, and implementation of the UNCRPD
- support disability capacity building within local authorities
Purpose of projects/activities
The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2021 is open to local authority applicants around key themes to support the participation and inclusion of disabled people in local communities:
- Participation in community life i.e. sports, the arts, community groups, and so forth;
- Accessible information and shared public places;
- UNCRPD Promotion; and
- Disability Awareness and Capacity Building.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in 2006. Ireland signed the Convention in 2007 and ratified the Convention in 2018.
The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.