30799 (2025). Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan to the Minister for Disability Issues

30799 (2025). Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan to the Minister for Disability Issues: What communications, if any, has she had with representatives of the disability community on the subject of extending the Disability Support Services Taskforce?

Hon Louise Upston: I have not engaged with the community on extending the Taskforce. I am pleased with progress made by the Taskforce to stabilise the disability support system so that it can deliver better outcomes for disabled people. In addition to running two nationwide consultations, the Taskforce has made progress in: - Transferring Disability Support Services (DSS) and its supporting functions to a branded business unit within the Ministry of Social Development - Completing a rapid review of residential contracts and developing a pricing model for residential care with simpler, credible pricing based on reasonable costs of care and which will enable DSS to sustainably forecast costs in the future - Providing greater consistency across Needs Assessment and Service Coordination and Enabling Good Lives sites and ensuring they are prioritising those in highest need - Taking action to forecast expenditure and implement more fiscal discipline - Developing a monitoring function to support continuous quality improvements - Reviewing needs assessment and allocation, and flexible funding settings so that they better meet the needs of disabled people, their whānau and carers. I expect that DSS will continue to involve the community in discussions about how disability support services are delivered.