Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 3

Written Answers. - Rights of Disabled.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

68 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the three priority areas for action in her Department for 1998 in view of the Government's commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium, page 18, People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17927/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

The Government has, in its Action Programme for the Millennium, committed itself to radical change to ensure that disability is placed where it belongs, on the agenda of every Government Department and public body. The action programme identifies seven key priorities for action in this area. These priorities include, inter alia, the implementation of the report of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities. Training and employment is the area which is of particular relevance to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and, in this context, the three main priorities for my Department during 1998 are as follows:

— To make arrangements with the Department of Health for the transfer of certain responsibilities to my Department relating to the training and employment of people with disabilities.

— To facilitate access for people with disabilities to mainstream employment and training programmes.

— To make accessible for people with disabilities the buildings occupied by my Department and to encourage similar action by the bodies under my Department's aegis.

There are a number of other recommendations relating to training and employment such as worker co-operatives and new and more flexible models of training which are being actively pursued.