The Indecon report on the cost of disability was commissioned in 2019 with the aim of better informing relevant budgetary allocations for 2020. Two years later, it is unacceptable that the report is still not published in time for the 2022 budget. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, stated in the Chamber last November that the disability capacity review was completed and would be published in due course. That was eight months ago and there is still no sign of it. This delay is unnecessary, unethical and unwarranted and it is increasing frustrations for my constituents in County Clare. The failure to ratify the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in a timely manner is a further unnecessary roadblock to progress. Will the Tánaiste intervene on these serious matters and ensure the publication of the two reports and the ratification of the optional protocol are accelerated with the utmost urgency in time for budget 2022?

These are separate but connected issues, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate. I do not know when it is intended to publish the Indecon report but I will check it out and get back to her by correspondence. The Government is keen to build on our ratification of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities by opting into the optional protocol as well, but we need to make sure we are ready to do so. I do not think we are quite there yet but we have never been closer.