Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 7

Written Answers. - Employment for the Disabled.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

90 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, which can be taken to evaluate and expand the very successful supported employment model for people with disabilities, set up by the National Rehabilitation Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19806/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

91 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, being taken to reduce the 80 per cent of people with disabilities in Ireland currently unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19808/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.

I am aware of the great difficulties facing people with disabilities in obtaining employment and my department, together with the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB), operates a range of measures to improve employment prospects for people with disabilities. One such measure is the pilot programme for the employment of people with disabilities. This programme which was set up for a three year period in 1994 provides for the employment of people with disabilities in viable business enterprises. One of the conditions of participation was that at least 50 per cent of the employees were people with disabilities. There are currently seven enterprises participating in the programme employing 177 people with disabilities. This programme is currently being evaluated. On receipt of this evaluation which will be completed shortly, I will be in a position to make a decision regarding the future of the programme.

The employment support scheme which was set up in 1990 also assists people with disabilities to obtain open employment. The scheme offers financial support to employers to encourage them to employ people with disabilities whose work productivity levels are less than average. There are currently 392 people with disabilities in employment with the assistance of the employment support scheme. The National Rehabilitation Board which administers the scheme has recently carried out an evaluation of the scheme. This evaluation will be considered by the NRB board at its meeting on 7 November 1996. The NRB also launched a new "Positive to Disability" symbol in May, 1996. An initial twelve companies were awarded the symbol in recognition of their commitment to the employment of people with disabilities. Discussions are on-going with a further group of companies and it is intended to award the symbol at six monthly intervals to eligible companies. A conference on employment of people with disabilities "Making the most of your Workforce" which was organised jointly between the Department of Health and the NRB in May addressed some of the concerns of employers in relation to both the retention of employees who acquire a disability and the employment of persons with a disability.

The NRB also operates general support services to people seeking employment. These include the workplace equipment adaptation grant whereby the NRB provides employers with a grant towards the costs of adapting the workplace to accommodate people with disabilities and job clubs which provide a range of supports free of charge for people with disabilities who are seeking employment. It is also recognised that the availability of high quality and appropriate vocational training is essential to enhance the employment potential of people with disabilities. To achieve this a range of high quality training courses which lead to nationally recognised certification is available. The NRB currently employs a number of employment coordinators to review the relationship of current training provision to labour market needs.

In addition to measures to assist people with disabilities obtain open employment and supported employment, sheltered work enterprises provide work places for people with disabilities who are unable to obtain or retain open employment. These places are provided by statutory and voluntary agencies and by health boards. Day activity services are also provided as an alternative to sheltered work where appropriate.