asked the Minister for the Environment if he will issue a directive to local authorities urging them to provide increased employment opportunities for disabled persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Persons Employment.
2.
The Government in its manifesto made a commitment to the placement in suitable employment of those workers either mentally or physically handicapped, and to this end has adopted a quota of 3 per cent as a target to be achieved over a period of five years in the public sector. To implement this part of the manifesto, the Minister for Labour recently set up an Interdepartmental Committee. This committee is currently examining how best to achieve the objective set and the recommendations made in due course will cover local authorities as well as other parts of the public sector.
I wish to remind the Deputy, however, that I have no power to direct a local authority to employ any particular person.
Would the Minister or the Government consider the introduction of legislation of a kind which is common to many countries of Disabled Persons Employments Acts whereby a particular percentage of disabled persons must be employed in particular industries, not only in the public sector but also in private industry?
Not at present. But I should like to inform the Deputy that the National Rehabilitation Board, at the request of the Interdepartmental Committee, have agreed to compile a register of persons qualifying for special consideration in the employment field because of their handicap. The National Rehabilitation Board have also been asked to suggest possible jobs ranges within the public sector which might be adequately filled by handicapped persons.
Might I ask the Minister why he is restricting his concern for the employment of disabled persons to the public sector? Why not include also the private sector? Why should not they carry their burden— if one might use that word—of disabled persons?
The private sector is being encouraged to employ these people as well.
Would the Minister not consider the introduction of legislation of the kind suggested by me— for disabled persons—whereby a small percentage should be guaranteed employment in the private as well as the public sector?
This would be a matter perhaps for the Minister for Labour and I shall take it up with him.