Vol. 429 No. 7
28 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if, in regard to his recent comments to the meeting of the Forum of People with Disabilities he will give details of when the promised extra 1,000 public sector positions for people with disabilities will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In my speech to which the Deputy refers, I outlined the history of previous efforts to provide increased employment for people with disabilities. I pointed out that in 1977 the Government introduced a 3 per cent quota for those with a physical or other disability for employment in the public service. Many people have been recruited on foot of that quota even though the target of 3 per cent has not been reached.
With a view to remedying this shortfall the Government intend to give a lead by honouring the 3 per cent commitment in relation to employment in the public sector. They will also give serious consideration to the possibility of legislation specifying a quota throughout the economy. I intend to have this issue included in the agenda for future talks between the Government and the social partners.
The Government is anxious to ensure that disabled people receive every possible support during the present difficult employment situation and have taken steps to improve job opportunities for them. These include setting a target to double the number of people placed annually under the employment support scheme. This scheme enables subsidies to be paid to employers based on the productivity of the individual worker.
