I would like to acknowledge that today marks the international day of persons with disabilities. The these of this year's worldwide event is "break barriers and open doors for an inclusive society for all". The UN estimates that over 1 billion people around the world - approximately 15% of the world's population - live with some form of disability. The international day of persons with disabilities has been in existence since 1992. It gives us an opportunity to highlight the importance of developing and working together to create an inclusive society for all people. I would like to pay tribute to the members of Inclusion Ireland's sub-committee on advocacy, which held an excellent briefly in Buswells Hotel earlier this afternoon. They spoke about advocacy rights and the rights of people with disabilities. They outlined what we can do to help improve the situation. I agree with the programme for Government that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities needs to be ratified. I call on the Leader to try to find out when that will happen. There have been many moves recently to improve the lives of people with disabilities. It is important to ensure people become self-advocates.

The respite care grant cut was very helpful in that context.

Senator Moran, without interruption.

I wish to bring to the attention of the House a study done by such a self-advocate, a wheelchair user in my own home town of Dundalk. He compiled a comprehensive report on accessibility in the town. It showed how we can work with the local authority to improve accessibility in the town. More such reports from self-advocates would be useful.

I commend the Minister for Education and Skills for announcing today the provision of 400 extra SNAs. He is honouring the commitment he made earlier in the year to increase the number of SNAs. I refer to the PISA report which shows Ireland has regained the ground lost in 2009 and that our 15 year olds are now among the best in reading and above average in mathematics and science in OECD countries.